Discussion: Worldview Analysis And Inventory
Discussion: Worldview Analysis And Inventory
Based on the required topic study write a reflection about worldview and respond to following:
Nurses like other medical and health practitioners make decisions daily that are laden with moral and ethical significance. These decisions are impacted by a host of personal reflection aspects and worldviews based on personal understanding and moral ethics. Personal views exist for individual nurses influenced by several factors that include relationship, religion, and upbringing that fundamentally defines one’s worldview which is a point of view to understanding one’s personal experiences in relation to events that shape society and human history (Gumenyuk et al., 2021). Each individual has ideas about the reality and their interpretation of the world and how beliefs shape a patient’s access to health care services. The purpose of this reflection is to discuss my worldview as a nurse based on certain concepts.
Christian Perspective of the in Contrast to Perspective of Postmodern Relativism in Health Care
The Christian worldview is based on certain ideas about God and humankind with adherents acknowledging God’s presence in all things that they do. Christians strongly follow and believe in the Biblical teachings with the spiritual understanding that all things happen based on God’s control and willing. God remains the basis of ethics and spirituality and directs steps for individuals, including nurse practitioners and patients in different care settings. Spirituality from the Christian perspective translates into the value of our interactions and in ways that our love demand. The utmost love is God and spirituality creates the connection that molds the perception of everything around an individual in society (Bogue & Hogan, 2020). Spirituality helps Christians to attain a connection with God, especially the Trinity and influences the outlook that one has on life and supports the moral decisions that one makes in life.
Christians know and accept that God is the giver of things that they possess and all that happens in their life; either good or bad. In health care setting, love and respect for others are a demonstration of the spirituality that nurse practitioners can have for patients and colleagues. Spirituality and compassionate car implies caring for patients and serving them as whole individuals created in God’s image and sharing the Trinity; God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Caring for others is a demonstration of the physical, emotional, social and spiritual obligations that drive spirituality in healthcare for nurses and other professionals.
Conversely, entails the thought that each person conducts their affairs and has no obligation to another one. Postmodern relativism rejects most of the ideas and explanations of reality as offered by different worldviews, including the Christian perspective. Postmodern relativism believes that most perceptions concerning nature and reality are relative to different communities and individuals; especially individuals and cultural influences that may differ between people from diverse cultural upbringing (Cabrero, 2018). The implication is that people and their different cultures are capable of and responsible for inventing their realties and truths that they can use to determine what is right or wrong. This implies that individuals will use various interventions in healthcare settings and have different interpretations when offering care to patient from diverse backgrounds. Postmodern relativism lacks evidence and is not associated with the truth. Therefore, it is unethical to base care on this concept since it means that patients decide what they want and not what is proved to work based on their care conditions.
Scientism and Arguments Against It
Scientism is the approach and belief that science has solutions to all questions that are significant or sensible to human beings. Scientism is speculative and about the universe and its meaning concerning the ultimate reality. Moreover, the concept is not associated with the Christian phenomenon based on the biblical account and descriptions of the creation of mankind. Scientism implores on individuals to view the knowledge that comes from scientific discoveries as the only valid source of information and reality. In scientism, there are no scientific boundaries as many believe that what it espouses is essential to understanding the human nature (Blue, 2018). The idea advances that most of the claims on knowledge and truth are false statements and mere individual opinions. The implication is that any truth should have evidential support and not just mere assumptions based on certain personal aspects. Scientism has opposing views to . However, it has not offered sufficient evidence to support its aspects leading to questions about its reliability and arguments against it.
The first argument against scientism is that it is a self-refuting philosophy, which implies that this worldview cannot be proven scientifically based on its argument that all truths require proofs. This goes against its primary principle of the need to test various truths. The second argument against the concept is that there is a limitation of gaining knowledge on certain elements. Scientism cannot offer explanations to all things with some aspects remaining unclear (Gasparatou, 2017). For instance, scientism cannot be utilized in deciding what is right or wrong in respect to moral behaviors and the application of ethics which are important aspects in healthcare. Scientism does not offer information associated with these aspects. The implication is that scientism is self-defeating and unsustainable in offering explanations to all aspects that impact human living.
Ultimate Reality
Individuals seek ultimate reality from time immemorial as they use metaphysics to understand what exists and the nature of that existence. Imperatively, the answer to ultimate reality shapes one’s worldview as it influences what one thinks is right or wrong, the concept of human being, and the innate value of life. Ultimate reality is the search for the highest level of authority and the reason for human’s existence. It is the acceptance of life and all the truths that emanate from the higher authority or God who gives essence to all existence. God created human beings to fellowship together and gave His assurance on how they should live while on earth. Through this word, individuals can determine what is right or wrong and understand most issues impacting their world.
The Nature of the Universe
The nature of the universe is associated with ultimate reality as individuals seek to understand different aspects of their existence in the world. The universe was created by God to sustain life of both human beings and other creatures. God attained this from time of creation and is expected to continue until the end of the world. Deism holds the existence of God but completely absent from the working of the universe and life (Bogue & Hogan, 2020). However, the Christian perspective is categorical that God is present in all things that happen in individual’s life. Theism holds that God is personal and exists both in the spiritual and physical world through human beings as created in His image. The implication is that the universe is God’s creation and its existence is a true manifestation of the spiritual aspect of human living.
Human Being
The concept of human being is complex and depends on one’s worldview. In this case, as a Christian, my worldview holds that human beings are part of God’s creatures and formed with the sole purpose of fulfilling his vision for the world. God caused humans to exists and desires in involving them in all aspects of his universe. God created human being in His image and this implies that individuals have in their being His attributes. God gives these attributes freely and include free will, reason, love, forgiveness and possession of wisdom and knowledge (Bogue & Hogan, 2020). Human beings are created in God’s image so as to enjoy a personal relationship with Him. God gives us the ability to be part of the creation as procreators and control different aspects of life for the living things in the world.
Knowledge
Knowledge denotes to information that individuals gain from what they have learned, experienced or been taught by significant others in their social lives. People join schools and training in different areas to gain knowledge on a host of issues and how they can live well and make effective decisions in life. The Christian perspective advances that empirical method can offer accurate knowledge about the physical world. However, individuals’ ability to access the empirical knowledge comes as God’s gift and people should not boast of skills and attributes that they possess but use them to make the world a better place. Knowledge is diverse and comes from God to help people solve social problems and understand the nature of natural power created by God.
Basis of Ethics
Ethics create the basis of what is considered as right or wrong and how people ought to think and behave. One’s worldview influences their formulation of ethics. However, I believe that God is the basis of ethics for many Christians. One’s upbringing impacts their ability to develop ethical perspectives and act in ways that demonstrate their beliefs and moral perspectives (Bogue & Hogan, 2020). My basis of ethics is the moral values derived from my family, my religious background and community norms; especially the values considered as critical to a moral and ethical living.
Purpose of My Existence
The purpose of existence is to ensure that one lives based on set moral values and being of service to others and self. While atheism advances that individuals live for their own purposes, I believe that one’s purpose of existence is beyond the need to satisfy personal goals and dreams based on our ambitions and visions in life (Bogue & Hogan, 2020). The purpose of my existence as a health care provider is service to others and ultimately to God and making the world a better place. I believe that serving others is the ultimate calling and demonstrates the profound love that one can have for God. I believe in showing empathy and respect and above all, love to all that I interact with, especially patients in distress who seek uplifting interactions with others.
Conclusion
It is essential to understand one’s worldview as it allows professional healthcare providers to develop positive perspectives and attitude towards patients, particularly in an increasingly diverse practice environment. one’s worldview shapes their values, decision-making, moral views and perspective and what they can believe in and not. Through the study of worldview, one can address important questions and shape their perspectives in their interactions with patients in the healthcare environment.
References
Blue, G. (2018). Scientism: A problem at the heart of formal public engagement with climate
change. ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies, 17(2), 544-560. https://www.acme-journal.org/index.php/acme/article/view/1554
Bogue, D. W. & Hogan, M. (2020). Foundational Issues in Christian Spirituality and Ethics.
Cabrero, L. O. (2018). Postmodernist Relativism: A Return to Polytheism? The Maastricht
Journal of Liberal Arts, 10, 57-68.
Gasparatou, R. (2017). Scientism and scientific thinking. Science & Education, 26(7), 799-812.
DOI: 10.1007/s11191-017-9931-1
Gumenyuk, T., Palchynska, M., Herchanivska, P., Kozak, Y., & Kobyzhcha, N. (2021).
Overcoming the Modern Socio-Cultural Crisis–from Postmodern to Post-Postmodern: Theoretical Aspects. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 10, 745-752. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2021.10.88