Philosophical Aspects in Nursing and Theory Development
Three credit hours
Chung-Hey Chen, Professor, PhD
: September, 2008
一、
Course description:
This course is an introduction to the nature of scientific inquiry and explanation and critique of theoretical conceptualizations in nursing discipline. Origins of and strategies for theory development in nursing are examined.
二、
Objectives:
1.
Understand the nature of scientific inquiry and explanation.
2.
Explore the scientific revolution.
3.
Explain philosophical aspects on nursing science and nursing knowledge development.
4.
Evaluate traditional science and alternative epistemologies.
5.
Formulate philosophical thinking and writing.
三、
Evaluation
：
1. Class participation 20%
2. In-class presentation 40%
3. Term paper 40%
3-1 Oral 15% (organization, clarity, idea, discussion, time)
3-2 Written 25% (organization, idea, writing style)
4. The term paper can range from 15 to 20 pages in length with APA-5 writing style. The paper written in either English or Chinese is acceptable.
四、
Required Textbooks
：
1.
Reed, P. G., Shearer, N. C., & Nicoll, L. H. (2004). Perspectives on nursing theory (4 th
ed.).
Philadelphia, New York: Lippincott.
五、
Suggested Textbooks:
1.
Chinn, P. L., & Kramer, M. K. (2004). Integrated knowledge development in nursing
2.
(6 th
ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby.
Kikuchi, J. F.,
＆
Simmons, H. (1994). Developing a philosophy of nursing.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
3.
Hempel, C. G. (1966). Philosophy of natural science. Englewood Cliffs:
Prentice-Hall.
1

4.
Meleis, A. I. (1997). Theoretical nursing: Development and progress. Philadelphia,
New York: Lippincott.
5.
Nicoll, L. H. (1997). Perspectives on nursing theory (3 rd
ed.). Philadelphia,
New York: Lippincott.
6.
Omery, A., Kasper, C. E., & Page, G. G. (1995). In search of nursing science. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
7.
Polifroni, E. C., & Welch, M. (1999). Perspectives on philosophy of science in nursing:
An historical and contemporary anthology. New York: Lippincott.
8.
Reynolds, P. D. (1971). A Primer in theory construction. New York: Macmillan.
9.
Walker, L. O., & Avant, K. C. (1995). Strategies for theory construction in nursing.
Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange.
10.
孔恩著
(Thomas S. Kuhn)
，程樹德、傅大為、王道還、錢永祥譯（
2000
） • 科學革
命的結構。台北：遠流。
11.
陳迺臣（
1990
） • 教育哲學。台北：心理。
12.
傅大為、朱元鴻主編（
2001
） • 孔恩：評論集。台北：巨流。
13.
黃光國（
2001
） • 社會科學的理路。台北：心理。
14.
鈕則誠（
1996
） • 護理學哲學
-
一項科學學與女性學的科技研究。台北：銘傳管理
學院出版中心。
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Philosophical Aspects in Nursing and Theory Development
Classroom
：
85-101
Date Time Topic Instructor
9/19 13:10-16:00 Course Introduction
Nursing Theory Development
9/26 13:10-16:00 Unit One: Structures of Nursing Knowledge
 Philosophy of Science and Nursing Science
Readings
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 1, 2, 3, & 4
Nicoll:
Chap. 63: Philosophy, Science, Theory:
Interrelationships and Implications for
Nursing Research
Chap. 64: The Relationship between Theory and
Research: A Double Helix
Chap. 65: Nursing Philosophy and Nursing
Research: In Apposition or Opposition?
10/17 13:10-16:00 Unit Two: Historical Perspectives on Nursing Theory

Nursing Theory and Theories

Trends and Issues
Readings
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 13, 14, 15, & 18
Walker & Avant:
Chap. 1: Theory Development in Context
Chap. 2: Introduction to Elements, Approaches, and Strategies of Theory Development
Meleis:
Chap. 3: On the Way to Theoretical Nursing:
Stages and Milestone
Nicoll:
Chap. 8: A Theory of Theories: A Position Paper
10/24 13:10-16:00 Unit Three: Philosophic Foundations of Science and
Theory

Worldviews
Readings:
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 19, 20, 21, 22, & 23
Chung-Hey Chen
Chung-Hey Chen
Chung-Hey Chen
Chung-Hey Chen
3

10/31 13:10-16:00

Epistemology
Readings
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 24, 25, 26, 27, & 28
Meleis:
Chap.13: Strategies for Theory Development
Chinn & Kramer:
Chap. 1: Nursing’s Fundamental Patterns of Knowing

Ontology 11/7
13:10-16:00
Readings
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 31, 32, 33, 34 & 35
11/14 13:10-16:00

Ethics
Readings
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 37, 38, 39, 40, & 41
Chinn & Kramer:
Chap. 7: Ethical Knowledge Development
11/21 13:10-16:00 Reflections of Knowledge and Theory Development
Chung-Hey Chen
Chung-Hey Chen
Chung-Hey Chen
Ue-Lin Chung/
Chung-Hey Chen
11/28 13:10-16:00 Theory Development in Family Care Giving Yea-Ing Shyu /
Chung-Hey Chen
12/5
13:10-16:00

Philosophies and Knowledge Development
Readings
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 42, 43, 44, & 46
Chinn & Kramer:
Chap.2: Nursing’s Knowledge Development Pathways
Chung-Hey Chen
12/12 13:10-16:00 Unit Four: Phenomenology and Hermeneutics
Readings
Omery et al.:
Chung-Hey Chen
Chap. 11: Phenomenology and Science
Chap.13: A Hermeneutical Human Science for Nursing
Polifroni & Welch:
Chap. 22: Quality of Life: A Phenomenological
Perspective on Explanation, Prediction, and
Understanding in Nursing Science
Chap. 23: A Heideggerian Phenomenologic Perspective on the Concept of the Person
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12/19 13:10-16:00 Unit Five: Science and Gender
Readings
Polifroni & Welch:
Chap. 33: Gender and Science
Chap. 35: After the Neutrality Idea: Science, Politics, and Strong Objectivity
Chap. 36: Gender and Nursing Science
Omery et al.:
Chap 8: Feminism, Science, and Nursing
12/26 13:10-16:00 Unit Six: Nursing Theory and Practice

Practice and Knowledge

Nursing Aesthetics
Readings:
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 47, 48, 49, 50 & 51
1/2
13:10-16:00 Unit Seven: Future Directions for Nursing Theory

Postmodernism and Nursing Science
Readings:
Reed, Shearer, & Nicoll:
Chap. 56, 59,& 61
Polifroni & Welch:
Chap. 37: Postmodernism and Knowledge
Development in Nursing
Chap. 40: The Dilemma of Nursing Science: Current
Quandaries and Lack of Direction
1/9 13:10-16:00 Presentation of A Philosophical Paper
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1/16 13:10-16:00 Presentation of A Philosophical Paper
Course Evaluation
Chung-Hey Chen
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