title: Understanding-misunderstanding: a philosophical and theoretical exploration.
abstract: Understanding-misunderstanding is an intrinsic part of being human. It is understanding that might be said to underscore all communication. This article is an in-depth exploration of the philosophical views regarding human understanding from some of the greatest philosophers in history, and a glimpse into the disciplines of sociology, psychology, and nursing in their views on human understanding or related concepts. Human understanding-misunderstanding is supported in the literature as a paradox--one that continues to be mysterious and illimitable. In fact, it is the belief of this author, in every human encounter, one cannot not understand-misunderstand.
authors.affiliation: Briar Cliff University, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara Backer
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Condon
mesh_terms: D032882:Comprehension; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical