title: Towards a philosophic theory of nursing.
abstract: Recently, Edwards and Liaschenko questioned the validity of an argument put forward by Dr Søren Holm and Joseph Dunne concerning the impossibility of a theory of nursing. Taking into consideration the premises of the argument, I describe how Maritain's conception of philosophy allows for the possibility of a theory of nursing conceived as a philosophy of nursing art that is both practical and propositional in nature. As well, I identify how the philosophy of nursing art guides nursing art in developing and applying other kinds of artistic practical nursing knowledge: artistic nursing rules and artistic prudential nursing judgements. Finally, the relationship of ethical knowledge to artistic practical nursing knowledge is set down.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. june.kikuchi@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: June F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing