Postmodernism, Realism, Anti-Realism in Nursing Essay

Postmodernism in nursing

In the contemporary society, issues related to post modernism, realism, and anti-realism have attracted heated debates. Many individuals do not believe in the modern approach to the truth and knowledge. Since the early 1950s, there have been several debates among nurse scholars. This paper focuses on postmodernism, realism, and anti-realism in nursing.

The effects of postmodernism in our society are real. In the hospitals, these effects are evidenced from increasing cases of nurses being accused of improper behaviors. In some places, postmodernism practices in health care are very rampant (Dahnke & Dreher, 2011). Postmodernism has influenced modern nursing maturity. For instance, in parts of Africa patients with psychological issues are referred to a traditional healer. The traditional healer interacts with the patients and diagnoses their health problems. There are several occasions that the healer’s assessments have been said to be true and consistent. With this illustration, it is apparent that postmodernism is real in our society. In medicine, post modernism comes into play when individuals lose hope in the current medical practices and turn to alternative medicine for healing. Equally, in our hospital prayers held for the inpatients and outpatients attest the effects of postmodernism in nursing. For instance, after prayer sessions are held in our hospitals patients normally feel relieved. Through this comparison, I acknowledge that that both alternative healthcare practices and prayer sessions held for patients in our hospitals are part of postmodernism.

Realism and anti-realism in nursing

For the last the last 50 years, there have been struggles between realists and anti-realists. As such, realists believe that all the postulates proposed by scientists are true. On the other hand, anti-realism is expressed in various ways. These ways suggest that there are multiple realities, science is a social construction, and that scientific truth is relative to history. Just as the postmodernism, realist and anti-realist arguments have attracted heated debates among nursing scholars. Anti-realism and realism are differentiated based on the philosophy of science because scientific theories reveal the truths about the world.

In nursing, realism should be perceived as a theory about the principles of science. As such, from a realism, perspective scientific innovations are considered as discoveries. On the other hand, from anti-realism perspective these investigations are considered as inventions (Klee, 2000). Through these arguments, it should be realized that the major differences between the two groups are evidenced by the way we perceive the natural world and scientific advancements. Equally, through the above arguments I believe that just as any reader can create the meaning to the text he or she is reading, an individual can also create the world according to his or her culture and personal experiences and perceptions.

I believe that philosophical debates for the last few centuries have proved that realism and anti-realism can take many forms. Over the years, the meaning of these terms has become clearer as scholars continue to unravel the relationship between these theories and the truth that they imply.

References

Dahnke, M. D., & Dreher, H. M. (2011). Philosophy of science for nursing practice: concepts and application . New York: Springer Pub..

Klee, R. (2000). Scientific inquiry: readings in the philosophy of science. New York: Oxford University Press.

Klemke, E. D., & Hollinger, R. (1998). Introductory readings in the philosophy of science (2 ed.). Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books.