Fundamental care and knowledge interests: Implications for nursing science

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Epistemology
• Fundamental Care

Background:

• Jürgen Habermas's theory posits that all knowledge and research are inherently interested.
• Habermas identified empirical-analytical, historical-hermeneutic, and critical social science knowledge interests.
• His framework did not explicitly address health or nursing science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize intratheoretical knowledge interests within nursing science.
• To establish an epistemological framework for fundamental care in nursing.
• To explore the implications of Habermas's knowledge interests for nursing.

Main Methods:

• Discursive paper analyzing Habermas's theory.
• Application of Habermas's knowledge interests to nursing science and fundamental care.
• Exploration of the interplay between technical, practical, and emancipatory interests.

Main Results:

• Nursing science exhibits a persistence of technical interest.
• A predominance of practical interest is observed in nursing.
• The importance of emancipatory interest is highlighted, alongside understanding individual experience and existential subjectivity.

Conclusions:

• Nursing can adopt practical and emancipatory interests alongside technical interests.
• Nurses' direct patient contact facilitates deep understanding of patient experience and illness.
• Emphasizing practical and emancipatory knowledge can elevate nursing science's leadership and social visibility.