In Defence of Selflessness: A Philosophical Analysis of a Central Virtue in Professional Caring Practices

摘要

The virtue of selflessness (unselfishness) does not seem to grip the imagination of many professional nurses. This seems a remarkable contrast to traditional speech in nursing. In this paper, the nature and importance of this virtue is defended as a quality that professional nurses are required to exhibit by the practice of nursing care as such. The nature and structural conditions of professional nursing as a social practice are explored in a philosophical way - using terminology developed by ethicist Alasdair Maclntyre -as well as the importance of selflessness in such a social practice. If one understands professional nursing as a social practice with the well-being of others in need as a central value, there is good reason to believe that a value like selflessness is required by the nature of nursing itself. The interest of the patient may be at peril when sight is lost of the professional virtue of selflessness.