FRUITS WITHOUT LABOR - THE IMPLICATIONS OF NIETZSCHE,FRIEDRICH IDEAS FOR THE CARING PROFESSIONS

Seldom is the work of philosophers invoked by health professionals whe n examining aspects of care from a philosophical perspective. Instead, students of health care, especially nurses, have been introduced to ' philosophies' which are often superficially examined and poorly unders tood. This practice fails to develop in students an appreciation of th e work of philosophers or to acquire the art of critical thinking. The introduction of models and theories of nursing in the past three deca des has alerted nurses to the importance of possessing critical skills in order to identify sound theory and implement good practice. This p aper goes beyond mere philosophising and examines aspects of mental he alth care from the perspectives of one of nineteenth century Europe's most notable philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche. It argues that underst anding his work can enhance one's ability to reflect on nursing practi ce, as well as bringing a new dimension to how we analyse 'mental heal th' problems. His work provides many insights into how we can improve our understanding of the effect of mental illness and mental health ca re on the individual, and how we conceptualise the process of care. Th is paper provides an overview of his life's work, his impact on the hi story of ideas and develops some of the more provocative implications of his work for mental health care.