Is it Good to Conceive of One’s Life Narratively?

Abstract Grace Hibshman has developed a new explanation for why narrative self-conceptions might contribute to one’s flourishing: conceiving of life narratively, she argues, can facilitate an improved self-understanding. In this short paper, we argue that, pace Hibshman, narratives tend misrepresent and mislead. So while they may give the impression self-understanding, that is typically mistaken. respect, narratively hinders flourishing.