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Reviewing Foucault: possibilities and problems for nursing and health care
Author(s) -
Cheek Julianne,
Porter Sam
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
nursing inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.66
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1800
pISSN - 1320-7881
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1800.1997.tb00084.x
Subject(s) - postmodernism , nursing theory , sociology , epistemology , strengths and weaknesses , nursing research , health care , michel foucault , nursing care , nursing , medline , medicine , philosophy , political science , law , politics
This paper addresses Foucauldian theory and its usefulness to nursing research. It is written in the form of a discussion between the authors on the merits and liabilities of Foucauldian theory as applied to analyses of nursing. As such, it focuses upon some of the more pertinent critiques of both Foucauldian and postmodern theory. By addressing Foucault from two different positions, the discussion seeks to demonstrate the complexity of Foucauldian theory and warns against oversimplification in its application to nursing research. The authors also argue for an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of any given theoretical stance.