Medicine in Between: Thomas Wolfe, Spirituality, and the Meaning of Life

Questions of meaning may seem more properly suited to the spheres of religion or philosophy; yet physicians certainly witness some of the greatest sufferings of their patients’ lives, and through this suffering, many patients look to their doctors not just for treatments but for answers. In this ess...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Petriceks, Aldis H. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V. 2022
In: Journal of religion and health
Year: 2022, Volume: 61, Issue: 4, Pages: 3151-3163
Further subjects:B Spirituality
B Literature
B Patient-doctor relationship
B Illness
B Meaning
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Questions of meaning may seem more properly suited to the spheres of religion or philosophy; yet physicians certainly witness some of the greatest sufferings of their patients’ lives, and through this suffering, many patients look to their doctors not just for treatments but for answers. In this essay, the author highlights an exchange between patient and doctor in Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel, to argue that physicians need not have ready made answers about life, meaning, or spirituality, but should indeed provide comfort and support when their patients ask: "What’s it all about?"
ISSN:1573-6571
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01388-2