of health in terms of individual well-being”
(Carper, 1975, p. 255). Personal knowing can
broadly be described as subjective, concrete, direct,
and existential and is relational to another human
being. Phenix (1964) asserts that it “signifies rela-
tional insight or direct awareness” (p. 7) and inter-
personal understanding. Personal knowing may be
understood as a process of gradually comprehend-
ing meaning and unity in a set of particulars as you
proceed through your search. You will experience
personal knowing in conjunction with other pat-
terns as you engage in your self-preparation and re-
flections prior to, during, and after your search.
Empirical Knowing
Empirical knowing relates to the science of nursing.
According to Carper (1975), this type of knowing is
“factual, descriptive and ultimately aimed at devel-
oping abstract and theoretical explanations. It is ex-
emplary, discursively formulated, and publicly
verifiable” (p. 254). You will be engaging in empir-
ical knowing particularly when you recognize,
assess, evaluate, and describe various aspects of the
nursing theory resource.
Ethical Knowing
Ethics is the moral pattern of knowing that focuses
on the primary principle of obligation and what
ought to be done in the concept of service and re-
spect for human life (Carper, 1978). The goals and
actions of nursing, including your search, involve
normative judgments of moral value. For example,
your intention to undertake this search is guided by
your ethical knowing that it oughtto be done in
order to increase critical nursing knowledge and
thereby enhance human welfare.
Aesthetic Knowing
Aesthetic knowing is a perception of unity and re-
sists expression into the discursive. Aesthetic know-
ing is creative,such as when it is combined with
empirical knowing in the discovery and apprecia-
tion of theory. Aesthetic design is “controlled by
perception of the balance, rhythm, proportion and
unity of what is done in relation to the dynamic in-
tegration and articulation of the whole” (Carper,
1978, p. 255).
You will be engaging in aesthetic knowing when
you evaluate the balance, organization, and har-
mony of the resource content. The immediate
You will be engaging in aesthetic knowing
when you evaluate the balance, organiza-
tion, and harmony of the resource content.
The immediate visual appeal of the theory
resource, whether or not it is pleasing, de-
notes aesthetic appreciation of beauty
and organization.visual appeal of the theory resource, whether or not
it is pleasing, denotes aesthetic appreciation of
beauty and organization.Symbolic Knowing
Symbolic knowing encompasses the realm of the
abstract, the tacit, and profound knowing. Phenix
(1964) states that symbolic systems constitute the
most fundamental of all realms in that they must be
used to express meanings of other realms.
Language and mathematics are included in the
symbolic realms, as well as nondiscursive, symbolic
forms used in all the arts and for the expression of
feelings, values, ideals, rituals, and commitments.
Symbolic forms are also indicated in signals, man-
ners, and gestures and encompass experience and
history.
You will be experiencing symbolic knowing
when you engage in self-examination and reflection.
Interpreting icons on the Internet, understanding
the meaning of theory, and searching virtual media
are also abstract ideas which you experientially
know as symbolic of something greater.Integrative (Synoptic) Knowing
Integrative (synoptic) knowing unites all knowl-
edge and experience in the moment and creatively
transforms it, providing a synopsis of meanings
(Phenix, 1964). This critical way of knowing en-
ables an individual to grow and change with the in-
tegration of knowledge.
As you analyze and summarize your findings,
you will be integrating your experience, accumu-
lated nursing knowledge, intuition, and knowing
derived from your search to arrive at a unique con-
clusion about the nursing theory resource.
Integrative knowing is linked to satisfaction.
Therefore, as you begin your search, honor your
unique and complex abilities and realize that you
are able to articulate more than you had ever real-
ized. Trust your knowing. When it is articulated30 SECTION I Perspectives on Nursing Theory