Curriculum Vitae by Casey Rentmeester
Books by Casey Rentmeester
Heidegger and Music, 2022
Although philosophers have examined and commented on music for centuries, Martin Heidegger, one o... more Although philosophers have examined and commented on music for centuries, Martin Heidegger, one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century, had frustratingly little to say about music—directly, at least. This volume, the first to tackle Heidegger and music, features contributions from philosophers, musicians, educators, and musicologists from many countries throughout the world, aims to utilize Heidegger’s philosophy to shed light on the place of music in different contexts and fields of practice. Heidegger’s thought is applied to a wide range of musical spheres, including improvisation, classical music, electronic music, African music, ancient Chinese music, jazz, rock n’ roll, composition, and musical performance. The volume also features a wide range of philosophical insights on the essence of music, music’s place in society, and the promise of music’s ability to open up new ways of understanding the world with the onset of the technological and digital musical age. Heidegger and Music breaks new philosophical ground by showcasing creative vignettes that not only push Heidegger’s concepts in new directions, but also get us to question the meaning of music in various contexts.
Rowman & Littlefield, 2016
In the past few decades, it has become clear that the Western world’s relation to nature has led ... more In the past few decades, it has become clear that the Western world’s relation to nature has led to environmental degradation so wide-ranging that it threatens the existence of human civilizations as we have come to know them. The onset of anthropogenic climate change and the increasing threats of resource depletions are the most obvious signs of an environmental crisis. This book attempts to examine the metaphysical underpinnings of our current environmental crisis, thereby viewing it from a philosophical perspective. Using Martin Heidegger’s writings on the history of being as its lynchpin, it examines how humans have come to view nature as a giant array of mere resources to be maximally exploited. Following Heidegger, Casey Rentmeester argues that this understanding of nature is rooted in the understanding of what it means to be that came about in ancient Greece. Rentmeester then utilizes elements of Heidegger’s post-metaphysical later philosophy and aspects of early philosophical Daoism to create an alternative way to think about the relation between humans and nature that is environmentally sustainable.
Articles by Casey Rentmeester
Nursing Philosophy, 2023
Philosophy is commonly criticized for being too abstract and detached from practical spheres. Upo... more Philosophy is commonly criticized for being too abstract and detached from practical spheres. Upon chronicling how philosophy has gained this reputation, the authors explore the philosophical fields of phenomenology and hermeneutics that have explicitly attempted to merge philosophy with everyday life contexts. In recent decades, phenomenology and hermeneutics have been applied to healthcare. In the realm of nursing, Patricia Benner's nursing theory is especially informed by phenomenology, which is briefly explored through her relationship with one of her mentors, the philosopher Hubert Dreyfus. The authors then turn their attention to Hans-Georg Gadamer's philosophy in an attempt to mine concepts relevant to the practice of nursing. Gadamer juxtaposed the human sciences from the natural sciences and thought that both needed different approaches: whereas natural sciences are guided by episteme, that is, universal knowledge, human sciences are guided by phronesis, that is, practical wisdom. Gadamer's philosophy is especially helpful in understanding how to cultivate phronesis in nursing wherein a nurse relies upon one's clinical experience to masterfully navigate each unique patient relationship. Nurses must serve as authorities in the realm of healthcare but also be open to the authority of their patients, who ultimately choose their course of treatment in our contemporary era of patient autonomy. Gadamer's philosophy can help us understand why phronesis requires not only practice but also reflection on that practice in order to be appropriately cultivated. The authors apply this to the realm of nursing in showing how both practice-clinically and via simulation-and reflection-through journaling or dialog-are necessary for phronesis to emerge.
Journal of Applied Hermeneutics, 2023
As a response to the opioid epidemic in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Pr... more As a response to the opioid epidemic in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain in 2016. This document served as a means to reduce risks and address harms of opioid use by recommending that clinicians conduct periodic urine drug testing for patients on chronic opioid therapy. As an unintended result of this recommendation, providers began using unexpected urine drug test results as a reason to dismiss patients from practice, both out of concern for their patients' wellbeing as well as their own legal risks. Using Husserl's and Heidegger's phenomenology, we argue that this science-based, black-and-white practice does not heed the patient as a whole person. Instead, we recommend a more contextual, patient-centered approach that can help us to better understand and manage patient needs in such contexts.
Musculoskeletal Care, 2023
Burnout is identified as a workplace problem rather than a worker problem. However, it remains un... more Burnout is identified as a workplace problem rather than a worker problem. However, it remains unclear what job stressors are associated with burnout among outpatient physical therapists. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to understand the burnout experiences of
outpatient physical therapists. The secondary aim was to identify the relationship between physical therapist burnout and the work setting
Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, 2023
Home exercise program (HEP) prescription is commonplace in physical therapy (PT). Adherence to HE... more Home exercise program (HEP) prescription is commonplace in physical therapy (PT). Adherence to HEPs is generally poor, with non-adherence as high as 70%. Poor adherence may negatively impact outcomes.
The objectives of this study were to: (i) qualitatively assess patients’ thoughts and beliefs regarding HEP performance and (ii) quantitatively define the relationship between adherence to HEPs and functional outcomes and identify variables that impact adherence.
Radiologic Technology, 2022
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has proven to be a highly effective medical imaging technique tha... more Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has proven to be a highly effective medical imaging technique that produces detailed cross-sectional images of organs, tissues, and skeletal structures. Because of its versatility, MR imaging has been called “one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in contemporary clinical medicine.”1 MR imaging is advantageous because it does not rely on potentially harmful ionizing radiation used in other imaging techniques; however, the MR imaging scanner can cause considerable anxiety for individuals with claustrophobia, a fear of confined spaces. The MR imaging scanner is designed as a large tube with a table in the middle. During examinations, the patient lies supine on the table, is slid into the scanner tube, and must remain still so that the MR imaging technologist can produce the precise images needed to facilitate an accurate diagnosis. Depending on the imaging required, the procedure can last from 20 to 50 minutes, which can be distressful for people with claustrophobia because the enclosed space might trigger anxiety-inducing feelings and thoughts. Using concepts from the philosophical tradition of phenomenology, this article attempts to describe what a patient experiences when they feel claustrophobic and to provide clinical strategies that MR technologists can use to navigate situations in which the scanner poses a risk of inducing a claustrophobia-related anxiety episode.
Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 2022
Patient expectations related to physical therapy outcomes are commonly collected through surveys ... more Patient expectations related to physical therapy outcomes are commonly collected through surveys and close-ended questionnaires. These methods may not optimally capture patients' expectations for physical therapy, especially in the patients' own words. Louis Gifford identified four questions attempting to guide clinicians' understanding of patients’ expectations for physical therapy. However, a qualitative assessment mapping the expectations that patients have prior to starting physical therapy appears to be undocumented. This paper details a qualitative study done where we attempt to close that gap.
Journal of Medical Humanities, 2022
There has been increased interest in what the philosophical subdiscipline of phenomenology can co... more There has been increased interest in what the philosophical subdiscipline of phenomenology can contribute to medical humanities due to its dual emphases on practicality and its attempt to understand the experience of others, thus positioning it as a potentially helpful conceptual toolkit to guide clinical care. Using various figures from the phenomenological tradition, most prominently Martin Heidegger and Martin Buber, the authors illuminate relevant philosophical concepts, employ them in various examples, and provide three principles revolving around empathy, communication, and listening to patients’ individual values to guide medical professionals who practice the art of medicine in cancer care settings.
Musculoskeletal Care, 2022
Introduction/Objectives: Therapeutic alliance (TA) is an integral part of building a patient and ... more Introduction/Objectives: Therapeutic alliance (TA) is an integral part of building a patient and
clinician relationship. TA begins at the initial encounter; however, the specific TA behavioral
practices that are most impactful and linked to pain reduction and improved function remain
unclear. The primary objective of this study was to explore physical therapist behaviors and
interactions during the initial physical therapy evaluation and how they related to the patient’s
perception of TA. A secondary objective was to explore the relationship between TA, pain
intensity, and function. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted. Pain intensity, TA and
self-reported function were assessed at three time points. Spearman’s Rho (ρ) was used to
quantify if there is an association between increased TA and function and reduced pain intensity,
while a checklist of TA themes and behavioral practices was used for the qualitative analysis.
Results: There was a statistically significant negative correlation between patient-perceived TA
and pain intensity immediately after the initial evaluation (ρ= -0.39 [p=0.048]). Behavioral
practices associated with higher TA included information gathering, pausing to listen, using
humor and transitions, and use of clarifying questions. Behavioral practices associated with
patient-perceived lower TA interactions were lack of touch, the absence of pain neuroscience
education, and not restating what the patient said during the interview. Conclusion: This study
highlights a relationship between TA and reduction of pain intensity after the initial evaluation
and identifies key behavioral practices that could positively and negatively impact TA during the
clinical encounter.
Das Questões : Filosofia Tradução Arte, 2021
Humans face wide-ranging and global challenges in the Anthropocene, the most prominent of which i... more Humans face wide-ranging and global challenges in the Anthropocene, the most prominent of which is anthropogenic climate change. One initial pivot towards sustainability, particularly in my home country of the United States, has been to rely heavily on technological innovation powered most obviously by engineers. Using the climate activist Greta Thunberg's speech at the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference as my inspiration, I try to show how some of the technologybased solutions only entrench what I call the "Bestance" mentality, that is, a fundamental stance or orientation toward the natural world in the Anthropocene wherein all entities show up as mere resources. Upon showing the various ways in which traditional ethical approaches and environmental philosophical approaches have proved unhelpful in navigating the challenges of the Anthropocene, I try to demonstrate how a Heideggerian ecophenomenological approach can help us not only understand how the world appears to many of us in the Anthropocene, but also what a more graceful way of being might look like in Heidegger's concept of "dwelling." Using specific examples of current technologies pervasively normalized in the United States, including hydraulic fracturing, horizontal drilling, desalination, and artificial nitrogen-based fertilization, I use Heidegger's philosophical concepts to show how the land, sea, and air can show up as Bestand in the Anthropocene, that is, mere materials on hand to be manipulated in order to serve human interests. I then utilize Heidegger's notion of dwelling as a useful concept to guide a more graceful way of living in which we respect the way in which things unfold on their own terms using examples similarly embedded in the land, sea and air.
Journal of Applied Hermeneutics, 2021
In recent decades, phenomenology has been utilized not only as a conceptual framework from which ... more In recent decades, phenomenology has been utilized not only as a conceptual framework from which to understand medical encounters in healthcare settings, but also to guide medical professionals in providing care. In the realm of physical therapy, phenomenology has been touted as a philosophically-based avenue to aid in helping to understand what it means to be a patient. The works of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger have been utilized as paths to approach phenomenologically-informed care in physical therapy. However, to our knowledge, no significant connection has been made in regard to the work of Hans-Georg Gadamer's phenomenology and hermeneutics in the realm of physical therapy. The authors aim to close that gap by showing the ways in which Gadamer's philosophy can help physical therapists provide phenomenologically-informed patient care. They begin by outlining some of the touchpoints between phenomenology and healthcare and then introduce Gadamer as a figure who deserves attention in the question of how to apply phenomenology to healthcare settings. Upon analyzing Gadamer's account of what it means to experience an altered body, they outline Gadamer's understanding of tact, practical knowledge, and good sense in order to show how to understand at a conceptual level what it means to empathize with patients on the path to building therapeutic alliance, that is, a cooperative working relationship. They then look closely at Gadamer's hermeneutics and particularly his comments on how to cultivate a fusion of horizons in order to attempt to help guide physical therapists in theoretically understanding how to empathize with their patients. Ultimately, they argue that physical therapists who practice phenomenologically-informed care, which they call "hermeneutical healing," are positioned well to form strong working relationships with their patients.
Journal of Medical Humanities, 2020
Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising (DTCPA) is pervasive in the United States. Beyond i... more Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising (DTCPA) is pervasive in the United States. Beyond its effect on consumer behavior, DTCPA changes the relationship between individuals and physicians. The author provides a brief history of pharmaceutical advertising in the United States. The author then analyzes the current commonly used marketing techniques of pharmaceutical companies and argues that pharmaceutical companies are “irrational authorities” in Erich Fromm’s sense of the term since they seek to exploit persons. Using concepts from various philosophers from the Continental tradition, with a particular emphasis on the work of Michel Foucault, the author analyzes the power relations involved in DTCPA and ultimately argues that DTCPA subtly undermines the contemporary paradigm of patient autonomy while simultaneously depending upon it by treating health consumers as “dividuals,” that is, as porous entities to be manipulated.
Journal of Applied Hermeneutics, 2020
Iris Marion Young's landmark paper on the phenomenology of pregnancy chronicles the alienating te... more Iris Marion Young's landmark paper on the phenomenology of pregnancy chronicles the alienating tendencies of technology-ridden maternal care, as the mother's subjective knowledge of the pregnancy gets overridden by the objective knowledge provided by medical personnel and technological apparatuses. Following Fredrik Svenaeus, the authors argue that maternal care is not necessarily alienating by looking specifically at the proper attention paid by sonographers in maternal care when performing ultrasound examinations. Using Martin Heidegger's philosophy as a theoretical lens, the authors argue that sonographers who cultivate technical mastery, build patient rapport, explain the process and significance of the ultrasound, and understand the patient's world are able to provide excellent patient care. The authors utilize Hans-Georg Gada-mer's hermeneutics to show how sonographers can frame the ultrasound in a way that acknowledges both the subjective knowledge of the mother and the objective data obtained by the sonographer through the use of technology. Ultimately, the authors argue that the common practice of framing the ultrasound as the chance to "meet the baby" is inappropriate, as it exacerbates the tendency to regard objective knowledge as the only legitimate knowledge in medical contexts. They recommend a more balanced approach that elicits a fusion of horizons between the patient's subjective knowledge and the objective data that are obtained by the sonographer via the ultrasound, thus respecting and bolstering patient autonomy.
Radiologic Technology, 2019
Informed consent has become the most obvious instantiation of patient autonomy in contemporary me... more Informed consent has become the most obvious instantiation of patient autonomy in contemporary medicine, though as a practice it does not encompass all spheres of medicine. While diagnostic radiological procedures carry some risk due to the use of radiation, there is no standardized practice of informed consent in the United States. The authors describe the ethical justification of informed consent, the legal background surrounding it, and a brief history of radiology and radiological protection. They ultimately argue that informed consent should become a common practice in computed tomography given the risks involved due to radiation exposure, especially considering the overuse of this technology, since it respects patient autonomy.
Nursing Philosophy, 2018
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) required healthcare providers in the Un... more The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) required healthcare providers in the United States to adopt and demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) by January 1, 2014. In many ways, EHRs mark a notable improvement over paper medical records as they are more easily accessible and allow for electronic searching and sharing of medical history. However, as EHRs have become mandated by ARRA, many nurses now rely upon computers far more heavily during nurse–patient interactions, thereby decreasing the level of direct interpersonal communication between the two. There is evidence that eye contact between nurses and patients positively affects patient satisfaction. Above and beyond the issue of patient satisfaction is the more basic ethical issue of respecting the patient as a person. The author argues that the templates used in electronic health systems have the possibility of eroding the respect for humanity that is the hallmark of nurse–patient relationships, as signalled by the American Nurses Association’s first principle in their Code of Ethics. Using concepts from philosophers Martin Heidegger and Emmanuel Levinas, the author provides guidance as to what an ethical interaction between nurse and patient should look like in an age of EHRs.
Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy, 2018
Communication between medical professionals and patients is an important aspect of therapy and pa... more Communication between medical professionals and patients is an important aspect of therapy and patient satisfaction. Common
barriers that get in the way of effective communication in this sphere include: (1) gender, age, and cultural differences;
(2) physical or psychological discomfort or pain; (3) medical literacy; and (4) distraction due to technological factors or
simply being overworked. The author examines these communicative barriers from a philosophical lens and then utilizes
Martin Heidegger’s phenomenology and hermeneutics to provide guidance for medical professional–patient interactions.
The phenomenological approach espoused emphasizes the particular, contextual nature of such interactions, and thus is
opposed to abstract, theoretical principles. Heidegger’s hermeneutics provides a philosophical approach to communication
that may guide the back-and-forth interpretation that should happen between medical professionals and patients to achieve
effective communication
International Journal of Ethics Education, 2017
Since philosophy is a notoriously difficult subject, one may think that the concept of adding rig... more Since philosophy is a notoriously difficult subject, one may think that the concept of adding rigor to a philosophy course is misguided. Isn't reading difficult texts by Immanuel Kant or Friedrich Nietzsche enough to categorize a class as academically rigorous? This question is based on the misguided assumption that academic rigor has only to do with course content. While course content is a component of academic rigor, other aspects such as higher-order thinking, as well as how an instructor designs and grades assignments, contribute to the level of academic rigor in a course. The author provides several ways to increase the level of academic rigor in a philosophy course based upon Bloom's Taxonomy using examples from an introductory ethics course and then provides recommendations as to how to grade to promote academic rigor.
Confluence, 2015
Shan Shui art is a traditional style of Chinese landscape painting that has had a lasting impact ... more Shan Shui art is a traditional style of Chinese landscape painting that has had a lasting impact on Chinese culture. This paper attempts to view a masterpiece of this genre of art – the artwork entitled ›Hermit Dwelling in the Qingbian Mountains‹ by Wang Meng – from the perspective of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophy of art in order to show how such an artwork can convey an ontological insight for those who experience it. Instead of viewing the artwork as simply an aesthetically pleasing landscape and thereby relegating the experience to the realm of feeling as is common in modern Western approaches to art, I argue that the artwork is best understood as imparting meaning into our lives by opening up a new perspective on reality. Specifically, I show the Daoist principles and concepts that underlie shan shui art at work in Wang Meng’s (c. 1308–1385) masterpiece. The Gadamerian approach adopted provides an appropriate avenue to respect Wang Meng’s artwork and other paintings in the shan shui genre on their own terms for those embracing a contemporary Western aesthetic sensibility.
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Curriculum Vitae by Casey Rentmeester
Books by Casey Rentmeester
Articles by Casey Rentmeester
outpatient physical therapists. The secondary aim was to identify the relationship between physical therapist burnout and the work setting
The objectives of this study were to: (i) qualitatively assess patients’ thoughts and beliefs regarding HEP performance and (ii) quantitatively define the relationship between adherence to HEPs and functional outcomes and identify variables that impact adherence.
clinician relationship. TA begins at the initial encounter; however, the specific TA behavioral
practices that are most impactful and linked to pain reduction and improved function remain
unclear. The primary objective of this study was to explore physical therapist behaviors and
interactions during the initial physical therapy evaluation and how they related to the patient’s
perception of TA. A secondary objective was to explore the relationship between TA, pain
intensity, and function. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted. Pain intensity, TA and
self-reported function were assessed at three time points. Spearman’s Rho (ρ) was used to
quantify if there is an association between increased TA and function and reduced pain intensity,
while a checklist of TA themes and behavioral practices was used for the qualitative analysis.
Results: There was a statistically significant negative correlation between patient-perceived TA
and pain intensity immediately after the initial evaluation (ρ= -0.39 [p=0.048]). Behavioral
practices associated with higher TA included information gathering, pausing to listen, using
humor and transitions, and use of clarifying questions. Behavioral practices associated with
patient-perceived lower TA interactions were lack of touch, the absence of pain neuroscience
education, and not restating what the patient said during the interview. Conclusion: This study
highlights a relationship between TA and reduction of pain intensity after the initial evaluation
and identifies key behavioral practices that could positively and negatively impact TA during the
clinical encounter.
barriers that get in the way of effective communication in this sphere include: (1) gender, age, and cultural differences;
(2) physical or psychological discomfort or pain; (3) medical literacy; and (4) distraction due to technological factors or
simply being overworked. The author examines these communicative barriers from a philosophical lens and then utilizes
Martin Heidegger’s phenomenology and hermeneutics to provide guidance for medical professional–patient interactions.
The phenomenological approach espoused emphasizes the particular, contextual nature of such interactions, and thus is
opposed to abstract, theoretical principles. Heidegger’s hermeneutics provides a philosophical approach to communication
that may guide the back-and-forth interpretation that should happen between medical professionals and patients to achieve
effective communication
outpatient physical therapists. The secondary aim was to identify the relationship between physical therapist burnout and the work setting
The objectives of this study were to: (i) qualitatively assess patients’ thoughts and beliefs regarding HEP performance and (ii) quantitatively define the relationship between adherence to HEPs and functional outcomes and identify variables that impact adherence.
clinician relationship. TA begins at the initial encounter; however, the specific TA behavioral
practices that are most impactful and linked to pain reduction and improved function remain
unclear. The primary objective of this study was to explore physical therapist behaviors and
interactions during the initial physical therapy evaluation and how they related to the patient’s
perception of TA. A secondary objective was to explore the relationship between TA, pain
intensity, and function. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted. Pain intensity, TA and
self-reported function were assessed at three time points. Spearman’s Rho (ρ) was used to
quantify if there is an association between increased TA and function and reduced pain intensity,
while a checklist of TA themes and behavioral practices was used for the qualitative analysis.
Results: There was a statistically significant negative correlation between patient-perceived TA
and pain intensity immediately after the initial evaluation (ρ= -0.39 [p=0.048]). Behavioral
practices associated with higher TA included information gathering, pausing to listen, using
humor and transitions, and use of clarifying questions. Behavioral practices associated with
patient-perceived lower TA interactions were lack of touch, the absence of pain neuroscience
education, and not restating what the patient said during the interview. Conclusion: This study
highlights a relationship between TA and reduction of pain intensity after the initial evaluation
and identifies key behavioral practices that could positively and negatively impact TA during the
clinical encounter.
barriers that get in the way of effective communication in this sphere include: (1) gender, age, and cultural differences;
(2) physical or psychological discomfort or pain; (3) medical literacy; and (4) distraction due to technological factors or
simply being overworked. The author examines these communicative barriers from a philosophical lens and then utilizes
Martin Heidegger’s phenomenology and hermeneutics to provide guidance for medical professional–patient interactions.
The phenomenological approach espoused emphasizes the particular, contextual nature of such interactions, and thus is
opposed to abstract, theoretical principles. Heidegger’s hermeneutics provides a philosophical approach to communication
that may guide the back-and-forth interpretation that should happen between medical professionals and patients to achieve
effective communication
-Discuss why it is important to respect members of the LGBTQ+ community using philosophical concepts.
-Differentiate between sexual orientation, biological sex, gender identity and gender expression.
-Identify social determinants of health and health disparities for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
-Identify strategies for decreasing barriers to care for this population and solutions for decreasing health disparities.
The author begins by differentiating authoritarianism from totalitarianism. In totalitarianism, the ruler has total control over the citizens, while in authoritarianism, the ruler disregards truth and pursues power by any means necessary. Using examples, the author argues that while Trump sometimes seems to think he has total rule, he is best labeled as an authoritarian.
One of the common characteristics of authoritarianism and totalitarianism is their reliance upon ideology. Hannah Arendt states that ideology has succeeded when people have lost contact with each other and the reality around them such that the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist. For Arendt, ideology is invoked by sowing doubt into authorities so as to create a world where nobody is reliable and nothing can be relied upon. Trump has proven himself to be a master of ideology: he rejects science, as can be seen clearly with his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as his environmentally destructive policies that fly in the face of the stark reality of climate change; he sows doubt into any media outlet that doesn’t align with his interests; and his overarching emphasis on law and order after the unjust killing of George Floyd and shooting of Jacob Blake blatantly prioritizes politics over respect for human dignity.
The dangerous thing about ideology is not that one person is delusional: the danger, rather, lies in the ability to garner disciples who buy into the rhetoric and act accordingly. Louis Althusser coins the term “interpellation” to explain this process. If ideological manipulation works “the individual is interpellated as a (free) subject in order that … he shall (freely) accept his subjection, i.e., in order that he shall make the gestures and actions of his subjection ‘all by himself.’” Upon outlining Althusser’s concept, the author argues that Trump supporters who deny the existence of climate change, as California wildfires burn relentlessly, and who refuse to wear masks during a pandemic, as the U.S. deaths outpace every other country, have all been interpellated in Althusser’s sense of the term. The author then uses Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenage suspect of the recent Kenosha shootings, who has been front row at Trump rallies and has a social media feed filled with “Blue Lives Matter” as a demonstration of the danger involved in ideology. Using Johan Galtung’s conception of positive peace, that is, social systems that promote human flourishing, the author ends by finding hope in the Black Lives Matter movement and increasing interest in a Green New Deal.
tendencies of technology-ridden maternal care, as the mother’s subjective knowledge of the
pregnancy gets overridden by the objective knowledge provided by medical personnel and
technological apparatuses. Following Fredrik Svenaeus, the authors argue that maternal care is
not necessarily alienating by looking specifically at the proper attention paid by sonographers in
maternal care when performing ultrasound examinations. Using Martin Heidegger’s philosophy
as a theoretical lens, the authors argue that sonographers who cultivate technical mastery, build
patient rapport, explain the process and significance of the ultrasound, and understand the
patient’s world are able to provide excellent patient care. The authors utilize Hans-Georg Gadamer’s
hermeneutics to show how sonographers can frame the ultrasound in a way that acknowledges
both the subjective knowledge of the mother and the objective data obtained by the
sonographer through the use of technology. Ultimately, the authors argue that the common
practice of framing the ultrasound as the chance to “meet the baby” is inappropriate, as it exacerbates
the tendency to regard objective knowledge as the only legitimate knowledge in medical
contexts. They recommend a more balanced approach that elicits a fusion of horizons between
the patient’s subjective knowledge and the objective data that are obtained by the sonographer
via the ultrasound, thus respecting and bolstering patient autonomy.
phenomenology has been used as a method in qualitative health care.
This is not surprising, given that phenomenology has a persistent
interest in human existence, in subjective experience, and in the
structure of the lifeworld. To offer proper care, it is important to
understand the meaning that people attach to the events that disrupt
their lives just as it is important to have some understanding of what
it is like to live with such conditions. But although phenomenology
does offer important resources, its actual use in research and clinical
practice has been hampered by widespread misunderstandings of its
central tenets and by too superficial or too theoretical engagements
with philosophical texts. We are developing new approaches to using
phenomenology in nursing and health care. Our approach primarily
takes advantage of the concepts, rather than the methods, of classical
phenomenology. We adapt phenomenological concepts such as
subjectivity, experience, empathy, the lived body, and the lifeworld
for use in health care research and practice. This conceptual approach
allows us to (a) better integrate the philosophically rich insights of
phenomenology with a variety of qualitative research methods and (b)
bring phenomenological understandings of human existence directly to
clinical practice.
This volume’s purpose is to examine new perspectives on worlding in light of what looks like a shift recently registered in the politics of theory, one which has led from the exploration of the possible into the subsequent investigation of the compossible, i.e. from the counter-capitalist drive towards deterritorialisation (whose flag capitalism hoists today to an unprecedented degree) into the post-capitalist reinvention of new existential territories (partly virtual, partly already real) at the interface of modern frustrations and the logics of the otherwise, thus encouraging (against despotic encodings and active nihilisms alike) a re-stitching of liberation (Dionysus) and dwelling (Apollo) on behalf of what might be labelled a cosmopolitics and a poetics of care.
It includes papers on questions of order, chaos, immanence, transcendence, singularity, and variation; post-foundational and meta-foundational axiomatics around notions like Grund, Abgrund, and multi-centricity; cosmopolitical pragmatics of alliance; the poetics of dwelling against the politics of devastation; the metaphysics of the others; the narratives of new complex existential niches; and extra-modern ontologies and cosmologies. Ultimately, then, it is dedicated to exploring the contours of the Otherwise on behalf of a non-minimalist philosophical paradigm: that of Worlding.
Tim Ingold speaks of drawing “lines” and making “knots,” Donna Haraway of “string figuring.” These and other similar expressions hint beyond today’s object-oriented fever and dystopian dismay. Yet by putting together this volume we want to move forward on their track in new, unhackneyed ways; for not only do we wish to picture specific modalities of be(com)ing with and their logics: we aim, too, at studying their conceptual backstage, memories, and margins.
The volume, on the other hand, divides into three sections: “Integrals” contains reflections out of which specific notional areas and volumes, but also problems, arise. “Derivatives,” in contrast, brings together drifts into the otherwise that make audible, and readable, some of the otherwise’s multiform voices. “Constellations,” finally, shakes the dust that forms the soil of what deserves to be thought, sensed, and experimented with.
Our gratitude to all those who have generously contributed a piece to the volume’s music.
Sofya Gevorkyan
Carlos A. Segovia