There's an interesting piece by Amanda Ruggeri on the BBC Capital site on 20th November discussing the reasons why goal-setting might not be as useful as people think (link). The piece investigates 'why a focus on outcome alone can create a hamster-wheel mentality', and argues that goal-setting is often misunderstood and misapplied. According to the piece, the principle failings of many efforts at goal setting include: Getting "so emotionally attached to a goal that we’re setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment" Setting goals for things we should do, rather than our true ambitions Deciding on future priorities when you don't know your future 'you' Moving on to … [Read more...] about Against goal setting
An accident waiting to happen
I'm preparing for a keynote lecture at the APA Conference in Sydney in a couple of weeks time, looking at aged care as a 'bellwether' of the physiotherapy profession at large. (Spoiler alert if you're going) I'm going to argue that if we can work out how to provide meaningful physiotherapy to older adults, we'll fix a lot of the problems now besetting the rest of the profession (abstract here). Part of the joy of this kind of work is the opportunity it gives you to think 'otherwise' about seemingly obvious, taken-for-granted things, like ageing as a natural biological process, or our inalienable role as the leaders of rehabilitation for the elderly and disabled. Testing why we think … [Read more...] about An accident waiting to happen
Professional Codes of Practice – can we (or Kant we) rely on them?!
This is the second post from Cath Cruse-Drew. It strikes me that at its root, Physiotherapy codes of practice in the UK contain more than a passing resemblance to Kantian moral theory. http://www.csp.org.uk/publications/code-members-professional-values-behaviour Adhering to a rule-based code, the principles governing our practice underline the obligation to observe laws and regulation, to take responsibility, and therefore to be accountable for one’s actions in the expression of one’s duty of care; to act with integrity, honesty and openness (do not lie); to respect and support individual’s autonomy (dignity) and to strive for excellence. The code is necessarily abstract, but … [Read more...] about Professional Codes of Practice – can we (or Kant we) rely on them?!
Extended members
One of the things I like most about the CPN is that its doing some pretty big things (international collaborations, book projects, a WCPT Focused Symposium next year, etc.), but its still small enough so that you get to see what other people are doing. And some of the things other people are doing are incredible. Anna Rajala, for instance, has been a CPN member since the early days, and during that time has been writing and teaching about history of medicine, mental health, disability, and political and moral philosophy. She's done a masters degree in philosophy, politics and economics of health and her dissertation on Hegel’s dialectics of recognition and ethics in dementia was awarded … [Read more...] about Extended members
Anna Rajala – Phenomenology of spirit – 30DoS #12
Phenomenology of Spirit (1807) is perhaps Hegel’s most influential work, especially through Marx’s critique that “stood Hegel on his head”: Marx inverted Hegel’s idealist absolutism into dialectical materialism. In the Phenomenology Hegel describes the dialectical experience and development of consciousness from sense-certainty, perception, understanding and self-consciousness to absolute knowing. Hegel argues in the famous passage titled ‘Lordship and Bondage’ that self-consciousness exists only insofar it exists in the world of others and is acknowledged by others. This idea of subject formation as social, as the need for mutual recognition, has influenced many philosophers, both who … [Read more...] about Anna Rajala – Phenomenology of spirit – 30DoS #12
beyond the machine: a panel debate hosted by the Institute of Art & Ideas
The Insitute of Art & Ideas is a not-for-profit organisation that was founded in 2008 to put philosophy & critical thinking into the heart of public life (follow this link to find more about the organisation & the exciting things they're doing). One way the IAI achieves this is by hosting cutting edge debates & talks from thought leaders from a wide range of disciplines & backgrounds. Beyond the Machine - metaphors of the body From Descartes’ view of the heart as a pump to Dennett’s conception of the brain as a computer, our understanding of the body is permeated with mechanical metaphors. Is it an error to believe that the body is a machine? Should we find a new … [Read more...] about beyond the machine: a panel debate hosted by the Institute of Art & Ideas
Review of the Critical Physiotherapy Forum held at the recent APA Conference
This post from CPN member Amy Hiller was recently published in the Australian Physiotherapy Association's InMotion magazine (link) and is reproduced with the kind permission of the APA. There is a link to the original pdf here. The critical physiotherapy forum aimed to provide a platform for thought and discussion about the practice of physiotherapy, highlighting philosophical, historical, ethical and social aspects of the profession. The theme of the session was consideration for ‘how the profession is, was and can be’. This was the first known conference session dedicated to ideas related to critical physiotherapy anywhere in the world – very exciting and innovative for the … [Read more...] about Review of the Critical Physiotherapy Forum held at the recent APA Conference