Premium
Realism and nursing
Author(s) -
Hussey Trevor
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
nursing philosophy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.367
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1466-769X
pISSN - 1466-7681
DOI - 10.1046/j.1466-769x.2000.00026.x
Subject(s) - realism , epistemology , sketch , positivism , philosophical realism , perspective (graphical) , critical realism (philosophy of perception) , convention , direct and indirect realism , constraint (computer aided design) , sociology , philosophy , social science , computer science , mathematics , geometry , algorithm , artificial intelligence
Abstract It is argued that philosophical realism is well suited to serve as a perspective from which to understand nursing, and that it should be considered as an alternative to positivist, interpretivist, hermeneutical and phenomenological approaches. However, existing forms of realism, including theory and entity realism are shown to be faced with serious problems. In response, an alternative form ‘constraint realism’ is outlined, and shown to be apposite for illuminating the rule or convention governed behaviour characteristic of human beings. A brief sketch is offered of its application to the social practice of nursing.