PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS

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PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS
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Questions to be Explored

• What is a philosophy?
• Why does a person need a philosophy?
• What are some of the philosophies or
  philosophical principles associated with the
  notion of health?
• What are the philosophical viewpoints of some of
  todays leading health educators?
• How is a philosophy developed?
• What are the predominate philosophies used in the
  practice of health education today?
• How will adopting any one philosophy impact the
  practice of health education?

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What is a Philosophy?

• A statement summarizing the attitudes,
  principles, beliefs, values, and concepts held by
  an individual or a group.
• Professional philosophy influenced by personal
  beliefs and values
• How does ones philosophy become expressed?

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Why Does One Need a Philosophy?

• Simple and complex
• Role of personal philosophy
• Why might ones philosophy change?
• Congruence of philosophy in all aspects of life
• What to do when incongruence does arise?
• Is health a moral issue?

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Principles and Philosophies Associated with Health

• Symmetry
• Holistic
• Humanism
• Wellness

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Leading Philosophical Viewpoints

• Examples
• Bensley
• Fetro
• Hamburg
• Seffrin

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Developing a Philosophy

• 1. Answer the following
• What is important?
• What is most valued?
• What ideals are held?

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Developing a Philosophy, continued

• 2. Identify ways the answers to the first
  questions influence the way you believe and act
• 3. With all of this information, one can
  formulate a philosophy statement

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Predominate Health Education Philosophies

• Behavior change
• Cognitive-based
• Decision-making
• Freeing/functioning
• Social change
• Eclectic

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• Putting it all together