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Åbo Akademi University, Department of Caring Science
KOSKINEN MONIKA: Keep Thy Heart. The Metaphor of the Heart in a
Caring Science Context
Master´s thesis, 77 pages, 2 appendices
Supervisor: Docent Lisbet Lindholm
May 2007
Key words: Heart, metaphor, Old Testament, Epione, phenomenological hermeneutics
Caritas is the basic motive for caring. Caritas is to serve the other in love. The heart is often
used as a metaphor to describe love. The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding
of the heart as a metaphor in a caring science context. The basis of the study emanates from the
eighth axiom in Eriksson’s caring theories: the human being lives in a reality which is
characterized by mystery, infinity and eternity. The theoretical basis of the study presupposes
that the metaphor of the heart is an important part of the caring tradition. The main question in
the study is how the metaphor of the heart can be understood in caring science. Two partial
studies have been done to gain understanding: one essence study using the wisdom literature of
the Old Testament and one contextual study based on the nursing care journal Epione. The
methodology of the study emanates from Ricoeur’s hermeneutical thinking. A phenomenological hermeneutical method is used to gain understanding of the metaphor of the heart.
The result discloses a multidimensional and dynamic heart. The three dimensions emerging
from the interpretation of the texts are the eternal heart, the intrinsic heart and the expressions of
the heart. The eternal heart demonstrates an affinity to the universal and the eternal. God’s
unconditional love for humankind is the basis of caring. To recognize this love gives a calling to
respond to love’s invitation to do good to others. The intrinsic heart is the dwelling place of the
soul. Communion with our fellow-beings and with God takes place in the heart. Man is also
alone in his heart; there is a loneliness that cannot be shared with others. The mystery of
sacrifice is found in the heart. To give of yourself is to gain yourself. This contains the ethos, a
reverence for the holiness and dignity of the human being. The heart is a dynamical place where
good and evil exist. The human being’s struggle is to keep the heart soft and vulnerable and so
make room for the good in the heart. What is in the heart is reflected in attitude, words and
actions. The eye that sees the suffering human being reflects the contents of the heart. To see is
to perceive the other human being’s suffering and respond to it. Acts of mercy are expressions
of the good heart originating in undeserved love.