ABSTRACT
When talking about existential issues and spiritual care in healthcare focus has primarily been on approaches based on psychological, religious or cultural disciplines, literacies and understandings. On hospitals and hospice, we are used to point to either the chaplain, the psychologist (with a speciality in existential psychology or art therapy), cultural representatives of other religions, or to doctors or nurses who have been on courses in spiritual care where these kinds of psychological, religious or cultural literacies are taught. However, there is also a fourth opportunity, which has not yet been thoroughly described in the healthcare research on spiritual care and person-centred healthcare. This is the discipline and practice of the “hospice philosopher” and “hospital philosopher.” The paper elaborates on why “philosophical literacy” is important and needed in spiritual care and why person-centred healthcare needs to be supplemented with “phenomenon-centred healthcare.” Through empirical studies where so-called “Wonder Labs” and “Wonder Compass” were tested at a Danish hospice and hospital, and through theoretical studies based on the apophatic tradition in philosophy this paper focus especially on the sense of wonder and the dialogical community of wonder between healthcare professionals and persons in care as central to “philosophical literacy” in healthcare.
