Peter Derkx

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I am an emeritus professor of the University of Humanistic Studies at Utrecht in the Netherlands. My background is in English literature, philosophy and history. My main research topics have been: - how to characterize (secular) humanism as a worldview?- what makes a human life meaningful?- how to describe ageing well from a socio-existential point of view?

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Papers by Peter Derkx

Humanism and Aging

The Oxford Handbook of Humanism, 2020

Humanism, as a meaning frame, is defined by four characteristics: human agency; human dignity; se... more Humanism, as a meaning frame, is defined by four characteristics: human agency; human dignity; self-realization; and love of vulnerable, unique, and irreplaceable persons. A humanist view of aging is in favor of healthy aging and life extension, but human life is and remains inherently vulnerable (not just medically), and in a humanist view other aims are regarded as deserving a higher priority than life extension for privileged social groups with already a high (healthy) life expectancy. Humanist priorities are (1) a better social organization of a person’s life course with a better balance among learning, working, caring, and enjoying; (2) more social justice—for too long differences in socio-economic status have been determinants of shocking differences in health and longevity; (3) development and dissemination of cultural narratives that better accommodate the fulfillment of essential meaning-needs of the elderly than the stereotyping decline- and age-defying narratives); (4) le...

Nurses’ attunement to patients’ meaning in life – A qualitative study of experiences of Dutch adults ageing in place

Background: Meaning in life (MiL) is considered to be an important part of health and is associat... more Background: Meaning in life (MiL) is considered to be an important part of health and is associated with many positive outcomes in older adults, such as quality of life and longevity. As health promotors, nurses may take patients’ MiL into account in the care process. There is a knowledge gap in terms of what constitutes good care in relation to older patients’ MiL, and what the benefits may be for patients when nursing is attuned to this aspect. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of home nursing older adults in relation to nurses’ attunement to MiL. Methods: Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenological design with semi-structured interviews. Participants were 24 aged home nursing patients. A framework of care ethical evaluation was used in the analysis. Multiple dialogues enhanced understanding. Results: Patients did not expect nurses’ regard for their MiL. They rather expected ‘normal contact’ and adequate physical care. Nurses showed that they were open to patien...

Meaning in life of older persons: An integrative literature review

Nursing Ethics

Background:Meaning in life of older persons is related to well-being, health, quality of life, an... more Background:Meaning in life of older persons is related to well-being, health, quality of life, and “good life.” However, the topic is scarcely covered in nursing literature.Objective:The aim of this integrative review for nurses is to synthesize knowledge from scholarly literature to provide insight into how older persons find meaning in life, what are influencing circumstances, and what are their sources of meaning. The review serves as a starting point for including meaning in life of older persons as a major concern for nurses in their role as health promoters.Method:An integrative review was performed including empirical research literature and texts on theoretical perspectives.Ethical consideration:Researches agree with ethical codes for research of universities in the Netherlands. For literature reviews no additional procedures are necessary according to Dutch law.Findings:A total of 44 heterogeneous texts were included in this review. Finding meaning in life is challenging fo...

Ten-Year Course of Cosmic Transcendence in Older Adults in the Netherlands

International journal of aging & human development, Jan 29, 2016

Gerotranscendence is defined as a transition from a materialistic and rationalistic perspective t... more Gerotranscendence is defined as a transition from a materialistic and rationalistic perspective to a more cosmic and transcendent view of life accompanying the aging process. Would gerotranscendence levels still increase in later life? The current prospective study investigates 10-year trajectories of cosmic transcendence (a core dimension of gerotranscendence). Four interview cycles of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam with 3-year intervals from 1995 to 2006 provide data on cosmic transcendence, demographics (ages 57-85), religiousness, health, sense of mastery, and humor coping. Data are available for 2,257 respondents and 1,533 respondents in multivariate models. Latent Class Growth Analysis shows three course trajectories of cosmic transcendence: stable high, intermediate with a decrease, and stable low. Higher levels are predicted by age, importance of prayer, Roman Catholic affiliation, a low sense of mastery, higher cognitive ability, and humor coping. Similar results we...

A Humanist Evaluation of Substantial Life Extension Through Biomedical Research and Technology

Humanism and Technology, 2016

Inclusief humanisme

Literature and Theology, 2008

‘Inclusief humanisme’ is een uitdrukking die Jan Hein Mooren en ik gebruikt hebben in een artikel... more ‘Inclusief humanisme’ is een uitdrukking die Jan Hein Mooren en ik gebruikt hebben in een artikel dat wij in 1996 publiceerden als bijdrage aan een discussie over de toekomst van het Humanistisch Verbond. (Derkx &amp;amp; Mooren, 1996) Kort gezegd gaat het er hierbij om dat humanistische kerngedachten zich niet alleen ophouden binnen de lidorganisaties van de Humanistische Aliantie, maar ook

A Humanistic Interpretation of the Qur'an?

The Dutch original of this chapter was published in Duyndam, Poorthuis and de Wit (eds.) 2005: 26... more The Dutch original of this chapter was published in Duyndam, Poorthuis and de Wit (eds.) 2005: 265-278. That Dutch text was in its turn a written elaboration of the contribution to the debate on Abu Zayd's inaugural address at Utrecht on May 28, 2004. This chapter is a translation of the 2005 text, with an addition in note 20 and one correction immediately after that note.

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Paul Cliteur: Darwin, dier en recht (2001)