Use and Abuse of Stories: New Directions in Narrative Hermeneutics

"We live in a world that is increasingly defined by a contest of incommensurable narratives. This sit-uation has emerged over a period of time shaped by the rise of populism, the increasing polarization of societies, what has been dubbed as "post-truth" politics, and most recently Russia's war in Ukraine. The internet is replete with narratives that contest basic facts about climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the atrocities that Russia is currently committing in Ukrain"--
Narrative practice has come under attack in the current "post-truth" era. In fact, many associate "narrative hermeneutics"--the field of inquiry concerned with reflection on the meaning and interpretation of stories--directly with this putative movement beyond truth. Challenging this view, The Use and Abuse of Stories argues that this broad arena of inquiry instead serves as a vitally important vehicle for addressing and redressing the social and political problems at hand. Hanna Meretoja and Mark Freeman have gathered an interdisciplinary group of esteemed authors to explore how interpretation is relevant to current discussions in narrative studies and to the broader debate that revolves around issues of truth, facts, and narrative. The contributions turn to the tradition of narrative hermeneutics to emphasize that narrative is a cultural meaning-making practice that is integral to how we make sense of who we are and who we could be. Addressing topics ranging from the dangers of political narratives to questions of truth in medical and psychiatric practice, this volume shows how narrative hermeneutics contributes to topical debates both in interdisciplinary narrative studies and in the current cultural and political situation in which issues of truth have gained new urgency.