Practical discourse as policy making: an application of Habermas's discourse ethics within a community mental health setting.
This paper describes the application of Habermas's communication ethics in resolving an ethical dilemma that arose in the daily operation of a women's hostel. By generating the conditions of practical discourse, several obstacles to an open, non-hierarchical discussion among staff were removed. The process aided the clarification of differing views within an atmosphere of mutual respect. The discourse resulted in a modification of usual practice that might not have been achieved if an unexamined interpretation of standard policy had been applied. Some difficulties and limitations of this adaptation are also described.
Willette
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D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D011050:Policy Making