Introducing the SMILE_PH method: Sense-making interviews looking at elements of philosophical health

The present article is a primary introduction to the semi-structured interviewing method SMILE_PH, an acronym for Sense-Making Interviews Looking at Elements of Philosophical Health. Beyond grounding this new methodology theoretically (a work that started here but will in future necessitate several developments), main motivation pragmatic: provide recent philosophical health movement with testable and show philosophically-oriented interviews are possible manner can be reproduced, compared, tested used systematically population has received no training philosophy. SMILE_PH approach was conceived by author during ethically approved pilot study focused on philosophy life persons living spinal cord injury (SCI), intention rectifying epistemic obstacles generated rationalist, Socratic or unstructured ways in-depth interviewing. six-step structure also inspired hundreds individual dialogue sessions counselees, led between 2018 2022: progressively gathers phenomenological data about 1 – our bodily sense, 2 sense self, 3 belonging, 4 possible, 5 purpose 6 sense.