Dreaming On: Dying Behaviour and the Romantic-Individualist Ethos

Over the last two decades and, most recently because of COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing interest in studying topics related to dying and death various fields research. Research started explore, more detail, bereavement among nonreligious people contemporary Western societies. It is now well established that this large social group finds its own meaningful ways come terms with grief, loss finitude. However, these studies typically do not include perspectives those living life-threatening illness facing death. Drawing on one half years ethnographic research conducted patients receiving palliative care Switzerland, study explores how orientation other facets human existence influence emotions meaning making while dying. This exemplified by case an atheist who I picked from totality fieldwork encounters order illuminate nuances complexities terminal illness. The found secular individualist values make it difficult find closure accept At same time, results show identification features worldview can increase well-being ensuring sense permanence actions meaning-making habits Furthermore, article makes for attitudes towards relation time life situation.