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The Nordic Network for Narratives in Medicine

The Nordic Network for Narratives in Medicine is a forum for the exchange and interaction of research, teaching and practices within the interdisciplinary field of literature, philosophy and medicine in the Nordic countries.

Golden lamps in a library. Photo.

Narratives in medicine raise philosophical issues that touch on imagination, empathy, attention, reflection, ethics, truth, etcetera.

The Nordic Network for Narratives in Medicine focuses on four, mutually related approaches, each of which highlights ways in which the study of literature and philosophy can contribute to medicine.

  1. Literary narratives can by their content provide an insight into the individual experience of being ill and thereby a potential for empathy with the patients among medical practitioners.
  2. Close and/or shared reading of literary texts and creative writing can offer competencies in the communicative aspects of medicine – between physician and patient, or between physician and nurse or other health care workers as well as between these and relatives.
  3. Fictional and non-fictional narratives can stimulate a philosophical reflection on ethical and social dilemmas that face the participants in medical situations.
  4. Interpretations of literature, and the philosophical discussion about, what interpretation is, can shed light upon the relationship between the emergence of medical, evidence-based, knowledge and other knowledge forms in the humanities. 

As philosophy can address fundamental questions about the nature of literature, The Nordic Network for Narratives in Medicine will also explore philosophical approaches to literature in the field of medicine and how literature can benefit from philosophical reflections. Together, literature and philosophy form a potent partnership that can infuse different perspectives on narratives.

More information about the network organisation

We have an upcoming network meeting in Copenhagen 10-11 June 2025. Theme: Educational Aspects in Medical and Health Humanities. The call for papers is open, deadline 15 February 2025. Read more about the call and information about keynote speakers and more on the Copenhagen University webbsite.

Call for papers: Educational Aspects in Medical and Health Humanities – Københavns Universitet (opens in a new window)

Do you want to become a member of the The Nordic Network for Narratives in Medicine? Send an e-mail to: Asa [dot] Thormahlen [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Asa[dot]Thormahlen[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Contact

Åsa Thormählen
Coordinator
Asa [dot] Thormahlen [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Asa[dot]Thormahlen[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)