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Ways of Knowing

Ways of Knowing. Augsburg College NUR 306 Week One. Introduction. Nursing is……. What is Health & Nursing?. Complex Word Symbols Ideas Abstract concepts & terms. Ways of Knowing in Nursing….

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Ways of Knowing

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  1. Ways of Knowing Augsburg College NUR 306 Week One

  2. Introduction • Nursing is……

  3. What is Health & Nursing? • Complex • Word Symbols • Ideas • Abstract concepts & terms

  4. Ways of Knowing in Nursing…. • Varying views of reality lead to different nursing beliefs, theories, and educational approaches • Core beliefs affect how you practice nursing • Your practice must be in harmony with your beliefs about what is real and true • Important to know your core beliefs

  5. Metaphysics - “what is real” • Cosmological • Theological • Anthropological • Ontological

  6. Metaphysics - “what is real” • Cosmological - Origin & nature of universe • Theological - Nature of God • Anthropological - Nature of human being • Ontological - Nature of existence

  7. Cosmological • Study of the theories about the origin, nature, and development of the universe • How did the universe originate and develop? • Is there a purpose towards which the universe is tending? • What is the nature of time and space?

  8. Theology • Is there a God? • Is there more than 1 God? • What are God’s attributes: • Good & evil? • All powerful? • Are there angels? • Is there an evil power?

  9. Theological - What do we mean by “God” • Atheists - there is no God • Pantheists - God and the Universe are identical • Deists - God is the maker of nature & moral laws, God exists apart from and is not interested in humankind or the physical Universe • Theists - there is a personal Creator/God • Polytheists - there are many Gods • Monotheists - there is one God

  10. Anthropological Humankind is both the subject and object of inquiry: • What is the relationship between mind and body? • Is mind more fundamental than body or vice versa? • Is there an interaction between mind and body? • What is humankind’s moral status? • Are people born good, evil, morally neutral? • To what extent are individuals free? • Does and individual have free will or are they destined? • Does an individual have a soul?

  11. Ontological The study of the nature of existence, or what it means “to be”: • Is basic reality found in matter or physical energy (the world we can sense), or spirit/spiritual energy? • Is reality lawful and orderly or chaotic? • Is reality fixed and stable or ever-changeable? • Is reality friendly, unfriendly, or neutral in regard to humanity?

  12. Epistemological Beliefs vs. Metaphysical Beliefs • Metaphysical Beliefs - what is real? • Epistemological Beliefs - what is true? • These two beliefs are at the very core of nursing

  13. Basic Question In Epistemology… Is there truth independent of human experience? • A Priori knowledge • A Posteriori knowledge

  14. A Priori Knowledge: • Is independent of human awareness • Is true whether humans know/accept it or not • Exists prior to human experience • Traditional science has upheld the superiority of a priori knowledge as it represents the fixed and permanent world that is ‘uncontaminated’ by human knowers

  15. A Posteriori Knowledge: • Requires human experience for verification of truth/knowledge • Modern philosophers claim a posteriori knowledge is superior, and that a priori knowledge does not even exist!

  16. 3 Basic Positions on the Objectivity of Knowledge: • Humans are recipientsin the knowledge process. • Humans are participants in the knowledge process. • Humans exist as ‘pure objects’ who become manufacturers of truth rather than recipients or participants

  17. Sources of Knowledge: • Empirical Knowledge: composed of ideas formed from observable data • Sensory Knowledge: knowledge obtained through the Senses • Revelatory Knowledge: knowledge that is revealed through a transcendent or supernatural reality that breaks into the natural order/reality

  18. Sources of Knowledge: • Authoritative Knowledge: accepted as truth because it comes from experts or is sanctioned over time by tradition • Rationalism/Reason:emphasizes the power of thought & what the mind contributes to knowledge, the senses are not enough • Intuition: knowledge that is not the result of conscious reasoning

  19. Validity of Knowledge • Corresponding Theory • Coherence Theory • Pragmatic Theory

  20. Validity of Knowledge - Tests of Truths • Correspondence Theory: • theory fits the data collected & analyzed through research • if the judgement corresponds with the facts it is true • method most often used by those working in the sciences

  21. Validity of Knowledge - Tests of Truths • Coherence Theory: • places its trust in the consistency of harmony of all ones’ judgments • a judgment is true if it is consistent with other judgments that have previously been accepted as true • there is an agreement on the boundaries, logic & phenomenon of the theory

  22. Validity of Knowledge - Tests of Truths • Pragmatic Theory: • there is NO such thing as static or absolute truth • people know only their own experiences • the test of truth is in its utility, workability, or satisfactory consequences

  23. Value Systems • Not universally agreed upon • What a person or society conceives of as being “good” or preferable • Built upon different conceptions of reality • Problems arise when two different value systems are held by a society, person, or profession • Individual & social life is based on a value system

  24. Conceived vs. Operative Values • Conceived Values: • values that people verbalize but may not actualize • Operative Values: • values that people act upon

  25. Worldviews (paradigms) • Explanations given for life events • All beliefs and values regarding health care are derived from a person’s basic worldview • 3 Major Worldviews: 1. Magicoreligious 2. Scientific 3. Holistic

  26. Magicoreligious Worldview • The fate of the world depends on God, gods, or supernatural forces • Events can be responsible for illnesses (sorcery, breach of taboo, disease-causing spirits, loss of soul). • Relates to a psychic or metaphysical need of humanity for integration and harmony

  27. Scientific Worldview • DETERMINISM: a cause and effect relationship exists for all phenomena • MECHANISM: the relating of life to the structure and function of machines • REDUCTIONISM: the division of all life into isolated smaller parts to better study or understand the whole • OBJECTIVE MATERIALISM: that which is real can be observed and measured

  28. Holistic Worldview • The forces of nature must be kept in harmony or balance • All is connected, inter-related, separate and yet part of a Whole

  29. Axiology, Ethics, Aesthetics • Axiology:asks “what is of value?” • Ethics: the study of moral values & conduct • “what should I do?” • “what is the best for all?” • “what is good conduct?” • Aesthetics: searches for the principle governing the creation of beauty and art • imagination & creativity • the art of nursing

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