Posthumanism philosophy in nursing profession

Document Type : Editorial

Authors

1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

2 Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

Posthumanism represents a dynamic and continually evolving movement, positing that advancements in science and technology, over time, will lead to the displacement of humans by machines, diminishing the human role in the world [1, 2]. It contends that the core of learning encompasses diverse factors, rejecting the centrality of humanism [3]. Consequently, nursing practices must adapt to societal changes influenced by post-humanist ideals [1]. Nurses are urged to comprehend the evolving landscape of post-humanism in nursing education, research, and knowledge [4]. Within the post-humanist framework, it is asserted that nursing challenges, both current and future, can be effectively addressed through interactive and collaborative approaches between nurses and patients [5]. This post-humanist perspective significantly impacts health performance, particularly in nursing and rehabilitation nursing, emphasizing the advancement of nursing care [6, 7]. Recognition of human and non-human relationships becomes imperative in nursing, considering the continuous progression of science and technology [8]. The rapid advancements in science and technology have introduced the capability for individuals to select desirable traits for their offspring through genetic manipulation and consider artificial organs for various medical conditions [3]. Consequently, nursing in the post-humanist era necessitates an adaptation to living in harmony with the growth and development of artificial intelligence [9]. Nurses are called upon to contribute to societal empowerment aligned with emerging technologies [10].

In the era of posthumanism, nurses assume a crucial role characterized by effective interaction, understanding of prevailing conditions, and the application of critical thinking and creativity in nursing care. Traditional solutions may prove inadequate in addressing novel conditions and situations, emphasizing the need for nurses to make informed decisions based on evidence-based decision-making [3]. Therefore, an essential requirement is nursing education that emphasizes evidence-based decision-making and the cultivation of critical thinking skills.

 

Acknowledgements

None.

 

Authors’ contributions

Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work: AS, HH; Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content: AS, HH; Final approval of the version to be published: AS, HH; Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: AS, HH.

 

Funding

Not applicable.

 

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

 

Competing interests

We do not have potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article.

 

Using artificial intelligent chatbots

None.

 

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

© 2023 The Author(s).

  1. Laurin AC, Martin P. Thinking through critical posthumanism: Nursing as political and affirmative becoming. Nurs Inq. 2024;31(1):e12606.
  2. Dillard-Wright J, Smith JB, Hopkins-Walsh J, Willis E, Brown BB, Tedjasukmana EC. Notes on [post]human nursing: What It MIGHT Be, What it is Not. Nurs Inq. 2024;31(1):e12562.
  3. Zhao J. Nursing in a posthuman era: Towards a technology-integrated ecosystem of care. Int J Nurs Sci. 2023;10(3):398-402.
  4. Petrovskaya O. Farewell to humanism? Considerations for nursing philosophy and research in posthuman times. Nurs Philos. 2023:e12448.
  5. Dillard-Wright J, Walsh JH, Brown BB. We Have Never Been Nurses: Nursing in the Anthropocene, Undoing the Capitalocene. Adv Nurs Sci. 2020;43(2):132-146.
  6. Tanioka R, Betriana F, Locsin RC. Treatise on the influence of theism, transhumanism, and posthumanism on nursing and rehabilitation healthcare practice. Nurs Philos. 2021;22(3):e12350.
  7. Mendz GL, Cook M. Posthumanism: Creation of 'New Men' Through Technological Innovation. New Bioeth. 2021;27(3):197-218.
  8. Runswick-Cole K, Goodley D, Liddiard K. Disability studies in a posthuman age. In: Tierney RJ, Rizvi F, Ercikan K, editors. International Encyclopedia of Education (Fourth Edition). Oxford: Elsevier; 2023. p. 200-208.
  9. Erikson H, Salzmann-Erikson M. Future Challenges of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Nursing: What Can We Learn from Monsters in Popular Culture? Perm J. 2016;20(3):15-243.
  10. Velázquez G L. New Challenges for Ethics: The Social Impact of Posthumanism, Robots, and Artificial Intelligence. J Healthc Eng. 2021;2021:5593467.
Volume 1, Issue 1
January 2024
Pages 1-2
  • Receive Date: 20 January 2024
  • Revise Date: 31 January 2024
  • Accept Date: 31 January 2024
  • First Publish Date: 31 January 2024
  • Publish Date: 31 January 2024