title: The problematic allure of the binary in nursing theoretical discourse.
abstract: Recent ideological positioning on the world stage has borne a startling resemblance to a form of positioning within nursing theory--that of taking complex ideas, reducing them to a simplistic binary form, and uncritically adopting one half of that form. In some cases, this adoption of a binary position has led to a passionately held form of "othering" that prohibits a healthy and critical engagement with ideas. As alluring as settling for the binary form may be--we argue for holding binaries in tension as a catalyst for stimulating dialogue--reasoning and exploration of new ways of wrestling with the social and moral complexity of nursing.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia School of Nursing, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2B5. thorne@nursing.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Sally E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: Angela D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Gladys I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: Barbara K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pesut
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D012586:Science