A Philosophical Inquiry on the Identity of the Nursing Ethics Byung-Hye KongThe purpose of this paper is to propose a philosophical foundation for the nursing ethics through the ontological understanding of human being, which is suitable for a nursing...
A Philosophical Inquiry on the Identity of the Nursing Ethics Byung-Hye KongThe purpose of this paper is to propose a philosophical foundation for the nursing ethics through the ontological understanding of human being, which is suitable for a nursing practice. For the holistic human care and the foundation of care ethics for the others, understanding of the bodily self as a subject was a starting point. In regard of the ontology of human being, Merleau-ponty's view has been supported by nursing scholars as a suitable ontology for the holistic human care in nursing. At a point of Merleau-ponty's view on ontology of person, the bodily consciousness is emphasized, and provided the foundation for the understanding of interaction and the reciprocity of the interpersonal-relationship based on bodily contact in nursing practice. However, the ethical dimension regarding an obligation and responsibility for the others was not mentioned. On the other hand, Levinas concerned the altruistic ethical dimension on the subject of the responsibility for the vulnerable other in nursing. According to his theory, the bodily sensibility of a nurse is required. A nurse herself/himself has to response to the need of suffering other and to take responsibility for it. In view of that, his approach could be a proper theory for the explanation of the altruistic feather of the nursing ethics. Still, it is not clear how a nurse as a moral subject with autonomy could form caring relationship to the others. Moreover, his ethics demands altruistic self -sacrifice, which could be, nowadays, too excessive obligation for the professional nurse.