This interdisciplinary, week-long online course is meant for students and professionals in the arts, literature, theology, philosophy, business, journalism, psychology, coaching, politics, and any other field in which narrative and storytelling play a role.

The Latin root of narrative, narrāre, is a derivative of nārus: knowledge. This etymology exemplifies the strong intertwinement of human thinking about storytelling and cognition, but the shared history of these concepts has not always been an easy one. Since classical antiquity, narrative has been conceived of as an ideal vessel for conveying knowledge (Horace), a specific form of knowing itself (Aristotle) or, instead, an obstacle to ‘true’ knowledge (Plato). These ancient debates find their counterparts in contemporary discussions about the uses and abuses of storytelling in, for instance, history, journalism, social media, politics, and education.