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The rise of the avatar: Virtual dimensions of ‘the human’ in nursing science
Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University of Gävle.
The Swedish Red Cross University College, Department of Nursing and Care.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0335-3472
2015 (English)In: Nordic journal of nursing research, ISSN 2057-1585, E-ISSN 2057-1593, Vol. 35, no 3, p. 158-164Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In this theory article, we discuss the virtual dimensions of the human, the avatar, in relation to ontological assumptions within nursing science. Assumptions in nursing science promote a ‘wholistic’ perspective of the human in terms of body, mind and spirit in relation to the environment. However, due to the enhanced technological development and the invention of cyberspace, we pose the critical question of whether the virtual dimension of identity really implicates a ‘wholistic’ view of human kindness or if this has been neglected. Furthermore, we suggest an ontological understanding that grasps new dimensions of humanity. In the article, we discuss the virtual dimensions of the human in relation to ontological assumptions within nursing science under the three headings of The techno-self and virtual identities, Techno-therapy and cyber nursing, and Becoming homo technicus. Due to these reflections, this article contributes to the debate on a postmodern understanding of human living conditions in society. We suggest further theoretical discussions to explore the conceptual and theoretical levels of nursing knowledge as new realities of human existence are introduced in the field. The transition into the digital age of the Internet, with the existence of cyborgs and avatars, is an ontological and epistemological challenge for nursing science that needs to be further investigated.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2015. Vol. 35, no 3, p. 158-164
Keywords [en]
big data, cyberspace, nursing science, online, postmodernism, web-based platforms
National Category
Nursing
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:rkh:diva-1871DOI: 10.1177/0107408315589462OAI: oai:DiVA.org:rkh-1871DiVA, id: diva2:819457
Available from: 2015-06-10 Created: 2015-06-10 Last updated: 2017-05-23Bibliographically approved

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Eriksson, Henrik

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CiteExportLink to record
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Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
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  • vancouver
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  • Other style
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Language
  • de-DE
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  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
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