© Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION PART I © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTIONFoundationsNOT of FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Nursing Science © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR79863_CH01_FINAL.indd DISTRIBUTION 1 NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION8/3/10 2:56 PM © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR79863_CH01_FINAL.indd DISTRIBUTION 2 NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION8/3/10 2:56 PM © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION CHAPTER 1 © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR PhilosophyDISTRIBUTION of Science:NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION An Introduction E. Carol Polifroni © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION INTRODUCTION Philosophy of science is a perspective, a lens, a way one views the world, and, in the© Jones case of &advanced Bartlett practice Learning, nurses, LLC the viewpoint the nurse utilizes© Jones in & Bartlett Learning, LLC everyNOT encounter FOR SALE with a patient,OR DISTRIBUTION family, or group. A person’s philosophyNOT of sciFOR- SALE OR DISTRIBUTION ence creates the frame on a picture—a message, which becomes a paradigm and a point of reference. Each individual’s own philosophy of science will permit some things to be seen and others blocked. It allows people to be open © Jones & toBartlett some thoughts Learning, and potentiallyLLC closed to others.© A Jones philosophy & Bartlett will deem Learning, LLC some ideas as correct, others as inconsistent, and some as simply wrong. While NOT FOR SALEphilosophy OR ofDISTRIBUTION science is not meant to be viewed asNOT a black FOR or white SALE proposi OR -DISTRIBUTION tion, it does provide perspectives that include some ideas and thoughts and, therefore, must necessarily exclude others. The important key is to ensure that the ideas and thoughts remain consistent with one another, rather than being © Jones & Bartlett Learning,in opposition. LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC Discussions of science, philosophy, and philosophy of science could all fill NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION books unto themselves. Although the aim of this chapter is to introduce readers to these topics, it is constructed on the form of a survey, which is designed to launch inquiry in myriad ways. The purpose is to encourage nurses to think in ways that they may not yet have discovered and to examine their assumptions and© actions Jones in &their Bartlett role as advancedLearning, practice LLC nurses. If nurses leave this© Jones chap- & Bartlett Learning, LLC ter NOTwithout FOR questioning SALE theirOR assumptions,DISTRIBUTION the author has not done herNOT job! One FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION must appreciate the personal assumptions used in everyday professional life. Nurses, for example, must question their assumptions and reaffirm (appreciate and understand) what it is that they believe. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 3 © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR79863_CH01_FINAL.indd DISTRIBUTION 3 NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION8/3/10 2:56 PM © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 4 Chapter 1 • Philosophy of Science: An Introduction © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC SCIENCE BeforeNOT philosophy FOR SALE of science OR DISTRIBUTION is examined in greater depth and particularNOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION philosophies of science are specifically explored, it is important to begin by developing an appreciation of the meaning of science and philosophy. Science, which comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning “knowledge,” traditionally © Jones & refersBartlett to both Learning, a process LLCand the outcomes of processes,© Jones such as & general Bartlett laws Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALEand observations. OR DISTRIBUTION General laws are considered to beNOT the lawsFOR of SALE nature OR that DISTRIBUTION guide physical life, such as the laws of gravity, energy, and motion. Generators of science utilize these laws in a systematic way to create a body of knowledge about a specific topic. The culmination of using the scientific method (system- atic process) provides a set of data (evidence) supported by propositions about © Jones & Bartlett Learning,an area LLCof study (Boyd, Gasper, & Trout,© Jones 1991). & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Natural Hard Sciences As an outcome, science is a body of knowledge. Physics, mathematics, and chemistry are three examples of scientific disciplines composed of unique bodies of knowledge. These sciences are often classified as natural sciences because© Jones they employ& Bartlett the general Learning, laws of LLC nature and begin with the© physical Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC notionNOT of FOR the world. SALE These OR naturalDISTRIBUTION sciences (which are sometimesNOT referred FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION to as the physical sciences) are also known as pure sciences. “Pure,” in this context, means a unique body of knowledge. A pure science is independent of others; it is able to stand alone, and it may be developed and furthered for the abstract cause of the knowledge itself. Pure science is not pursued for its util- © Jones & ityBartlett or value. Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALENatural OR and DISTRIBUTION pure sciences are based on the assumptionNOT FORthat reality SALE is objec OR -DISTRIBUTION tive, rather than subjective. As a result of this objectivity, natural science is consistent—in other words, it is reproducible and reliable. Natural science further encompasses the assumption that human beings have the capacity to be accurate in their objectivity. © Jones & Bartlett Learning,Lastly, LLC natural scientists believe© Jonesthat explanations & Bartlett (using Learning, the method LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTIONdescribed later in this chapter) areNOT present FOR within SALE the naturalOR DISTRIBUTION or real world. As a consequence, explanations are reasonable, constant and consistent, accu- rate, objective, discoverable, and understandable. Owing to its basis in objec- tivity, natural science is predicated on the belief that there is an external world structure© Jones independent & Bartlett of self Learning, that is grounded LLC in reliability. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOTNatural FOR physical SALE sciences OR DISTRIBUTIONare referred to as “hard science.” In recentNOT years, FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION quantum physicists have begun to integrate the role of the observer into their discipline, which is still categorized as a hard science. This conundrum will be addressed as part of the discussion of complexity science found at the end of this chapter. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR