Week 1 Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is Philosophy?
o Philosophy is something intermediate between theology and
science.
o Consists of speculation on matters which definite knowledge is
not yet available.
o Appeals to human reason rather than authority (e.g. divine
authority)
Notes on Philosophical Debate
o Appeals to authority carry no weight
o Any appeals to authority can be queried on the grounds that
they may be mistaken.
What are Empirical questions?
o Empirical questions are those which can be answered using
sensory evidence.
o Data is derived from these simple observations.
Philosophy of Nursing 3 Strands?
o Philosophical Presuppositions Strand
o Philosophical Problems Strand
o Scholarship Strand
What is Philosophical Presuppositions Strand?
o Assumptions of nursing discourse
o Identifies and Assesses presuppositions.
o Used to focus the relationship between theories, models,
philosophies, paradigms and metaparadigms
- Paradigms – A pattern or model
- Metaparadigm – Most general statement of a discipline and functions as a framework in which more restricted structures of conceptual models develop
What is Philosophical Problems Strand?
o Two Phases:
Phase 1: If philosophical work already done on a subject,
make use of it.
Phase 2: Recognise that there is a considerable amount of
work required for philosophical issues in nursing
What is Scholarship Strand?
Assessment of claims by nurse-theorists that their respective views have a philosophical basis.
Conception of Values?
o Nursing value systems contain many elements
o Values are passed on from generation to generation (particularly
in practicing profession)
o Core Values – E.g. Compassion, Care, Commitment
Philosophical Systems in Nursing – Throughout history (4 types
o Ascetism
o Romanticism
o Pragmatism
o Humanistic Existentialism
What is Ascetism? – (Self Denial) Big from 1910-1920
o Definition - severe self-discipline and avoiding of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons
o Existed from beginning’s of nursing
o Pre Nightingale Era
o Link with Christianity
o Devotion to duty
o Nursing was seen as a “calling”
o Self-enrichment and personal growth were the reward
What is Romanticism? (20’s to early 40’s)
o Rose in the 1800’s (art and literature based)
o Supported behaviour w/out factual logical basis
o Means to operate from a visionary or quixotic view (Idealistic,
unrealistic, and impractical)
o Supported subservient & idealised traits of women
o Supported and sustained a dependence. Lack of autonomy,
assertiveness, and independence
What is Pragmatism?
o Greek Pragmata meaning acts, affairs or business
o Method of logic to determine meanings of intellectual concepts
o Looks at practical consequences of acts, ideas and concepts
o Every idea needs a practical use
o Focuses on disease, disability and diagnosis
What is Humanism?
o Went towards a more holistic approach of nursing. Stopped dividing into physical, psychological and social
o Each person is unique & inexplicable by scientific or metaphysical systems
o “Whole of the human is different from his parts”
Explain Humanistic Existentialism?
o Originated in writings of Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
o Most Natural Philosophy for Nursing as:
- is orientated to people
- is a view of the human being as an organismic whole
- implies that the parts do not explain whole
- accepts the ultimate unpredictability of the human
- makes it acceptable for each individual client to make
personal choices about their care
- makes nursing and nurses become accountable
- places a value on making one’s own choices
- provides the necessary steppingstone to autonomy
- puts nursing decisions into nursing hands and therefore see
nurses as being accountable for these, their own decisions
Where powerlessness has it’s roots?
- Ignorance
- Lack of confidence
- Lack of tech
- Lack of resources
- Lack of unity/organisation
Where Power comes from?
o Unity
o Self-appropriation (taking it for yourself)
o Self-experienced
o Dynamic application of principle of practice
Aspects of Nursing addressed by Philosophy?
o The nature of the client
o Nature of nursing
o Health & what it is?
o What commitments do education, knowledge and practice make
to the profession
Philosophical Agreement in Nursing
o The individual
o Nursing is rational
o Promotion of health
o Influence on politics & society
o A central purpose
Philosophical Divergence in Nursing
o Independent, interdependent, collaborative
o Holistic unit
o Skills are central
o Democratic mode of operations
o Practice reflects professionalism
o Roles - protective, nurturative, generative
o Loyalty & commitment are unreservedly given
Describe Utilitarianism
o Concentrates on consequences or outcomes rather than the act
itself
o Teleological theory – Telos is Greek for ‘end’ or ‘goal’
o Happiness theory – Existence exempt from pain, & as rich in
enjoyment as possible
Demands of Utilatarian theory?
o Promotes self-sacrifice for greater good
o Negative responsibility – Equally responsible for omissions and
actions
Utilitarianism Strengths and Weaknesses?
Strengths:
* Specifies goal to increase positive value and minimise evil
* Potential to answer most situations
* Focus is on consequences rather than motives
* Not abstract but gets to the heart of morality: promoting human flourishing and meliorate suffering
Weaknesses:
* Contentious whether we should be held equally responsible for actions and omissions
* Difficult to measure consequences in terms of wellbeing, pleasure or happiness
* Utilitarianism could sanction immoral actions
Details of Deontology?
o Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) identified with Deontology
o Kant adamantly disagreed with Utilitarianism
o Emphasis on correctness of the action, regardless of possible
benefits or harms produced
o Uses rules to distinguish right from wrong
What is Categorical Imperative w/examples?
o Commands or rules that admit no exceptions and are binding on all rational beings
o Four duties:
Do unto others
Treat people as an ends and not a means to an end
Act so that you treat the will of every rational being as one
that makes universal law
Act in such a way that you would have all other persons act
