Ways of KnowingWays of Knowing

Augsburg CollegeAugsburg CollegeNUR 306NUR 306

Week OneWeek One

IntroductionIntroductionNursing is……Nursing is……

What is Health & Nursing?What is Health & Nursing?Complex Complex Word SymbolsWord Symbols IdeasIdeasAbstract concepts & termsAbstract concepts & terms

Ways of Knowing in Nursing….Ways of Knowing in Nursing….

Varying views of reality lead to different Varying views of reality lead to different nursing beliefs, theories, and educational nursing beliefs, theories, and educational approachesapproaches

Core beliefs affect how you practice Core beliefs affect how you practice nursing nursing

Your practice must be in harmony with Your practice must be in harmony with your beliefs about what is real and true your beliefs about what is real and true

Important to know Important to know youryour core beliefs core beliefs

Metaphysics - “what is real”Metaphysics - “what is real”

CosmologicalCosmologicalTheologicalTheologicalAnthropologicalAnthropologicalOntologicalOntological

Metaphysics - “what is real”Metaphysics - “what is real”

Cosmological - Cosmological - Origin & nature of universeOrigin & nature of universe

Theological - Theological - Nature of GodNature of GodAnthropological - Anthropological - Nature of human beingNature of human beingOntological - Ontological - Nature of existenceNature of existence

CosmologicalCosmological

Study of the theories about the origin, Study of the theories about the origin, nature, and development of the universenature, and development of the universe

How did the universe originate and How did the universe originate and develop?develop?

Is there a purpose towards which the Is there a purpose towards which the universe is tending?universe is tending?

What is the nature of time and space?What is the nature of time and space?

Theology Theology Is there a God?Is there a God? Is there more than 1 Is there more than 1

God?God? What are God’s What are God’s

attributes:attributes: Good & evil?Good & evil? All powerful?All powerful? Are there angels?Are there angels? Is there an evil power?Is there an evil power?

Theological - What do we Theological - What do we mean by “God”mean by “God”

AtheistsAtheists - there is no God - there is no God PantheistsPantheists - God and the Universe are identical - God and the Universe are identical DeistsDeists - God is the maker of nature & moral - God is the maker of nature & moral

laws, God exists apart from and is not interested laws, God exists apart from and is not interested in humankind or the physical Universe in humankind or the physical Universe

TheistsTheists - there is a personal Creator/God - there is a personal Creator/God PolytheistsPolytheists - there are many Gods - there are many Gods MonotheistsMonotheists - there is one God - there is one God

AnthropologicalAnthropological Humankind is both the subject and Humankind is both the subject and

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

OntologicalOntological The study of the nature of existence, The study of the nature of existence,

or what it means “to be”:or what it means “to be”: Is basic reality found in matter or physical Is basic reality found in matter or physical

energy (the world we can sense), or energy (the world we can sense), or spirit/spiritual energy?spirit/spiritual energy?

Is reality lawful and orderly or chaotic?Is reality lawful and orderly or chaotic? Is reality fixed and stable or ever-Is reality fixed and stable or ever-

changeable?changeable? Is reality friendly, unfriendly, or neutral in Is reality friendly, unfriendly, or neutral in

regard to humanity?regard to humanity?

Epistemological Beliefs vs. Epistemological Beliefs vs. Metaphysical BeliefsMetaphysical Beliefs

Metaphysical BeliefsMetaphysical Beliefs - what is real? - what is real?Epistemological BeliefsEpistemological Beliefs - what is true? - what is true? These two beliefs are at the very These two beliefs are at the very

core of nursingcore of nursing

Basic Question In Basic Question In Epistemology…Epistemology…

Is there truth independent of Is there truth independent of human experience?human experience?

A Priori knowledgeA Priori knowledgeA Posteriori knowledgeA Posteriori knowledge

A Priori Knowledge:A Priori Knowledge:

Is independent of human awarenessIs independent of human awareness Is true whether humans know/accept it or Is true whether humans know/accept it or

notnotExists prior to human experienceExists prior to human experienceTraditional science has upheld the Traditional science has upheld the

superiority of superiority of a prioria priori knowledge as it knowledge as it represents the fixed and permanent world represents the fixed and permanent world that is ‘uncontaminated’ by human that is ‘uncontaminated’ by human knowers knowers

A Posteriori Knowledge:A Posteriori Knowledge:

Requires human experience for Requires human experience for verification of truth/knowledgeverification of truth/knowledge

Modern philosophers claim Modern philosophers claim a posterioria posteriori knowledge is superior, and that knowledge is superior, and that a prioria priori knowledge does not even exist!knowledge does not even exist!

3 Basic Positions on the 3 Basic Positions on the Objectivity of Knowledge:Objectivity of Knowledge:

Humans are Humans are recipientsrecipients in the knowledge in the knowledge process.process.

Humans are Humans are participantsparticipants in the in the knowledge process.knowledge process.

Humans exist as ‘pure objects’ who Humans exist as ‘pure objects’ who become become manufacturers of truthmanufacturers of truth rather rather than recipients or participantsthan recipients or participants

Sources of Knowledge:Sources of Knowledge:Empirical KnowledgeEmpirical Knowledge: : composed of ideas composed of ideas

formed from observable dataformed from observable dataSensory KnowledgeSensory Knowledge: : knowledge obtained knowledge obtained

through the Sensesthrough the SensesRevelatory KnowledgeRevelatory Knowledge:: knowledge that is knowledge that is

revealed through a transcendent or revealed through a transcendent or supernatural reality that breaks into the supernatural reality that breaks into the natural order/realitynatural order/reality

Sources of Knowledge:Sources of Knowledge:Authoritative KnowledgeAuthoritative Knowledge: : accepted as accepted as

truth because it comes from experts or is truth because it comes from experts or is sanctioned over time by traditionsanctioned over time by tradition

Rationalism/Reason:Rationalism/Reason: emphasizes the emphasizes the power of thought & what the mind power of thought & what the mind contributes to knowledge, the senses are contributes to knowledge, the senses are not enough not enough

Intuition:Intuition: knowledge that is not the result knowledge that is not the result of conscious reasoning of conscious reasoning

Validity of KnowledgeValidity of Knowledge Corresponding Corresponding

TheoryTheory Coherence TheoryCoherence Theory Pragmatic TheoryPragmatic Theory

Validity of Knowledge - Tests Validity of Knowledge - Tests of Truthsof Truths

Correspondence Theory:Correspondence Theory: theory fits the data collected & analyzed theory fits the data collected & analyzed

through researchthrough researchif the judgement corresponds with the if the judgement corresponds with the

facts it is truefacts it is truemethod most often used by those method most often used by those

working in the sciencesworking in the sciences

Validity of Knowledge - Tests Validity of Knowledge - Tests of Truthsof Truths

Coherence Theory:Coherence Theory: places its trust in the consistency of places its trust in the consistency of

harmony of all ones’ judgmentsharmony of all ones’ judgmentsa judgment is true if it is consistent with a judgment is true if it is consistent with

other judgments that have previously other judgments that have previously been accepted as truebeen accepted as true

there is an agreement on the there is an agreement on the boundaries, logic & phenomenon of the boundaries, logic & phenomenon of the theory theory

Validity of Knowledge - Tests Validity of Knowledge - Tests of Truthsof Truths

Pragmatic Theory:Pragmatic Theory: there is NO such thing as static or there is NO such thing as static or

absolute truthabsolute truthpeople know only their own experiencespeople know only their own experiencesthe test of truth is in its utility, the test of truth is in its utility,

workability, or satisfactory workability, or satisfactory consequencesconsequences

Value SystemsValue SystemsNot universally agreed uponNot universally agreed uponWhat a person or society conceives of as What a person or society conceives of as

being “good” or preferablebeing “good” or preferableBuilt upon different conceptions of realityBuilt upon different conceptions of realityProblems arise when two different value Problems arise when two different value

systems are held by a society, person, or systems are held by a society, person, or profession profession

Individual & social life is based on a value Individual & social life is based on a value systemsystem

Conceived vs. Operative ValuesConceived vs. Operative Values

Conceived Values:Conceived Values: values that people verbalize but may values that people verbalize but may

not actualizenot actualizeOperative Values:Operative Values:

values that people act upon values that people act upon

Worldviews (paradigms)Worldviews (paradigms)Explanations given for life eventsExplanations given for life eventsAll beliefs and values regarding health All beliefs and values regarding health

care are derived from a person’s basic care are derived from a person’s basic worldviewworldview

3 Major Worldviews3 Major Worldviews::1. Magicoreligious1. Magicoreligious2. Scientific2. Scientific3. Holistic3. Holistic

Magicoreligious WorldviewMagicoreligious WorldviewThe fate of the world depends on God, The fate of the world depends on God,

gods, or supernatural forcesgods, or supernatural forcesEvents can be responsible for illnesses Events can be responsible for illnesses

(sorcery, breach of taboo, disease-(sorcery, breach of taboo, disease-causing spirits, loss of soul).causing spirits, loss of soul).

Relates to a psychic or metaphysical need Relates to a psychic or metaphysical need of humanity for integration and harmonyof humanity for integration and harmony

Scientific WorldviewScientific Worldview DETERMINISM:DETERMINISM: a cause and effect relationship a cause and effect relationship

exists for all phenomenaexists for all phenomena MECHANISM:MECHANISM: the relating of life to the structure the relating of life to the structure

and function of machinesand function of machines REDUCTIONISMREDUCTIONISM:: the division of all life into the division of all life into

isolated smaller parts to better study or isolated smaller parts to better study or understand the wholeunderstand the whole

OBJECTIVE MATERIALISM:OBJECTIVE MATERIALISM: that which is real that which is real can be observed and measuredcan be observed and measured

Holistic WorldviewHolistic WorldviewThe forces of nature must be kept in The forces of nature must be kept in

harmony or balance harmony or balance All is connected, inter-related, separate All is connected, inter-related, separate

and yet part of a Wholeand yet part of a Whole

Axiology, Ethics, AestheticsAxiology, Ethics, AestheticsAxiology:Axiology: asks “what is of value?”asks “what is of value?” Ethics:Ethics: the study of moral values & conduct the study of moral values & conduct

““what should I do?”what should I do?” ““what is the best for all?”what is the best for all?” ““what is good conduct?”what is good conduct?”

Aesthetics:Aesthetics: searches for the principle searches for the principle governing the creation of beauty and artgoverning the creation of beauty and art imagination & creativityimagination & creativity the the artart of nursing of nursing