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….

 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

Metaphysics “what is real”

 Cosmological  Theological  Anthropological  Ontological

Metaphysics “what is real”

 Cosmological Origin & nature of universe  Theological Nature of God  Anthropological Nature of human being  Ontological Nature of existence

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?

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?

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

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?

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?

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

Basic Question In Epistemology…

Is there truth independent of human experience?

 A Priori knowledge  A Posteriori knowledge

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

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!

3 Basic Positions on the Objectivity of Knowledge:

 Humans are

recipients

in 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

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

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

Validity of Knowledge

 Corresponding Theory  Coherence Theory  Pragmatic Theory

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

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

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

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

Conceived vs. Operative Values



Conceived Values:

 values that people verbalize but may not actualize 

Operative Values:

 values that people act upon

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

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

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

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

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