An Analysis of the Pragmatic Consequences of Holism for Nursing

Allen, Carol Easley

doi:10.1177/019394599101300207

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…80 Phillips' Holism 3 is the position taken by modem physics and is neither reductionistic nor anti-reductionistic, but rather calls for definition of terms and methodologies to study wholes. 81 Whitford argues that Smuts' Holism is most closely aligned with Holism 3 within Phillips' typology. 82 Smuts' ideas about Holism had the effect of involving him in an intense dispute between the idealistic and materialistic approaches to the ecological sciences.…”

Section: Holism and Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Utility of Jan Smuts’ Theory of Holism for Philosophical Counseling

Plessis¹,

Weathers²

2022

International Journal of Philosophical Practice

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This article explores the potential utility of the theory of Holism as developed by South African philosopher, British Commonwealth statesman and military leader, Jan Smuts, for philosophical counselling or practice. Central to the philosophical counseling process is philosophical counsellors or practitioners applying the work of philosophers to inspire, educate and guide their counselees in dealing with life problems. For example, Logic-Based Therapy (LBT), a method of philosophical counselling developed by Elliot Cohen, provides a rational framework for confronting problems of living, where the counselor helps the counselee find an uplifting philosophy that promotes a guiding virtue that acts as an antidote to unrealistic and often self-defeating conclusions derived from irrational premises. We present the argument that Holism is one such uplifting philosophy which can be of utility to philosophical counselors or practitioners to help their counselees with confronting problems of living. Furthermore, we argue that Smuts’ articulation of freedom can act as a guiding virtue within this uplifting philosophy of Holism in accordance with the methodology of LBT. Smuts’ contribution to philosophy and psychology is arguably inadequately credited, and for this reason, and to the best of our knowledge, Smuts’ theory of Holism has yet to be discussed in the context of philosophical counseling or practice. Given these omissions, we begin this article with a discussion of his influence on 20th Century Anglo-American psychology. We then provide a brief historical context, and an introduction to the central argument of Smuts’ Holism, as well as a brief overview of the origins of Smut’s Holism and an introduction to his book Holism and Evolution. In the remainder of the article, we discuss several foundational concepts that underlie Smuts’ theory of Holism, as articulated and developed in his book Holism and Evolution, to substantiate our arguments. We conclude by highlighting the limitations of our article, limitations to Smuts’ model, and the challenges inherent in the use of a now largely antiquated theory, even by Smuts’ own admission nineteen years after its publication, for the purposes of contextualizing and substantiating the arguments and recommendations presented herein.

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Section: Holism and Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Utility of Jan Smuts’ Theory of Holism for Philosophical Counseling

Plessis¹,

Weathers²

2022

International Journal of Philosophical Practice

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“…Although Newman's work suggests that holism supports few restrictions for nurses in most areas, Allen (1991), indicates that the concept of holism has been used at times, by leaders in the discipline, to control the behaviour of nurses. Allen says that in the past, holism was, for instance, used as an argument t o encourage nurses into unpopular areas of practice, such as psychiatry, and as a means to persuading nurses to accept types of care which would reduce costs to patients.…”

Section: Freedom Versus Control In Nursing Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As Allen (1991) indicates, the concept of holism was first used, early in the history of nursing, to provide a rationale for recognition as a profession. She further points out, however, that it was also used as a means by which leaders in the discipline could control the behaviour of individual nurses.…”

Section: Holism In Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

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How should holism guide the setting of educational standards?

Jacono

Jacono²

1994

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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What do the ideas about freedom implicit in holism indicate about the setting of standards in nursing, particularly nursing education? This is the question explored in this paper. In addition, the authors attempt to demonstrate that standards are a part of holism and that a more flexible view of standards is required, given the ideas inherent in the concept of holism. Finally, factors which might militate against a holistic approach and might contribute to an unduly arbitrary setting of standards are explored.

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Holism in nursing

Woods¹

1998

Philosophical Issues in Nursing

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An Analysis of the Pragmatic Consequences of Holism for Nursing

Cited by 8 publications

References 33 publications

The Utility of Jan Smuts’ Theory of Holism for Philosophical Counseling

The Utility of Jan Smuts’ Theory of Holism for Philosophical Counseling

How should holism guide the setting of educational standards?

Holism in nursing

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