Katie Eriksson’s caring theories. Part 1. The caritative caring theory, the multidimensional health theory and the theory of human suffering

Abstract

In this article, Katie Eriksson's caring theories including the caritative caring theory, the multidimensional health theory and the theory of human suffering are described. The assumptions and concepts, both etymologically and semantically investigated, are founded in ontology. Caring is a human natural phenomenon and patient means the suffering human being. In the caritative caring theory, the substance and core of caring is described as ‘to care is to tend, play and learn in faith, hope and love’. The starting point is love, mercy, human kindness, compassion and a caring relationship. Caring is healing and sharing—a will to care, which is founded in faith and life energy. Caring promotes humanity and people's health, and thus a feeling of wholeness, integration, growth and inner freedom. The goal is to promote and protect health and life and alleviate suffering. Health means wholeness and holiness. Eriksson emphasises an ontological aspect of health, where the human being is seen as an inseparable being comprising a body, soul and spirit. To be healthy is to be whole and to feel whole, where wholeness means life itself. In the multidimensional perspective, the essence of health is vitality. Vitality is the innermost dimension of health; it is a force to energy in life, to joy and desire. Health is a dynamic movement between dimensions of becoming, being and doing. Eriksson seeks answers to the ‘what’ of suffering through concept analysis, but she also discusses the ‘why’ question. Each suffering is unique. There is a connection between suffering and desire, where suffering gives birth to an unsuspected life power that is not seen as having any other source than suffering itself. Desire and suffering make up the driving power for a person's being and formation into the person she is intended to become.