This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and critical analytic skills to comparatively evaluate the philosophical foundations of scientific theories and the influence of Western philosophical school of thoughts on the development of the nursing science. Course content is organized to engage students in discussion and critical analysis of the epistemological and philosophic foundations of scientific theories and the characteristics of scientific knowledge according to the received view, paradigmatic view, perceived postmodern view and feminist tradition. Special emphasis is given to the critical debate within nursing about the nature of nursing science.