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Compare And Contrast Plato And Heideggerian Phenomeology

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Plato and Heidegger are two historical philosophers whose philosophies have served as the foundation for nursing research, education and practice. The ideals and teachings of both philosophers have proven to be useful in advanced professional nursing. From Plato’s influence on Florence Nightingale, to the Hermeneutic circle of Heidegger’s phenomenology, both philosophers have had significant influence on nursing that remains relevant to advanced professional nursing.
Plato. Plato was a student of Socrates, the teacher of Aristotle, and is the most recognized Realist philosopher (Meinwald, 2017). Platonic Realism is the view that universals exist. A universal is a property of an object, and can exist in more than one place at the same time. Universals are considered to be ideal Forms. …show more content…

Martin Heidegger is a widely recognized German positivist philosopher (Heidegger 1927/2011). Heideggerian phenomenology explores ‘the being’ as understood through lived experience. Heidegger focused on ‘Dasein,’ or, ‘the mode of being human.’ Heidegger believed understanding is a basic form of human existence. One of the essential goals of Heideggerian phenomenology is to uncover the meaning of everyday ordinary human existence. Everyday ordinary existence is where the meaning of that existence resides. Understanding is not a way we know the world, rather, understanding is the way we are. Heideggerian phenomenology is existential and ontological in nature, and asks, ‘What does it mean to be a person?’ Heidegger views a person as a self-interpreting being. A person exists as a ‘being’ that is a part of the world in which they exist. Heidegger focused on the human being’s existence in their world as an individual and within their social context. Heidegger viewed both world and being as inseparable. Heidegger argues against a presuppositionless approach to phenomenology, and asserts that interpretation can only make explicit what is already

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