Nova PhDs

All:

I am embarking on a project on existential suffering. In palliative medicine, existential suffering is a euphemism for suffering that is not explicitly physical or psychiatric but focuses instead on one's identity and the meaning of one's existence. The term is used primarily in reference to terminally ill patients.

The project involves several presentations and articles, some by me alone, some in concert with colleagues who are clinicians in palliative care, including an existential psychologist.

My role is largely to articulate the contributions that concepts in existential philosophy may make to a better understanding and definition of "existential suffering" in palliative care. While I am competent to do this, many of you are far better versed in--and surely more up to date on--developments in the scholarship of and on existential philosophy. Additionally, I am far more familiar with the French than the German classic texts.

So, if you have suggestions of portions of books or essays that jump out at you as 'must read' when you hear my description above, I would love to hear from you--via the group or via email at timothy.kirk@york.cuny.edu. Depending on the degree of your interest, I am also happy to consider a collaboration on a related article.

Thanks in advance--Tim