Abstract

The idea of loyalty is one to which a positive value is usually attached, however, the term is highly ambiguous. Uncovering some of the meanings is one of the goals of this thesis. The second goal is a description of the use of loyalty as a former principle of Nursing Ethics. The two approaches should complement one another so that a clearer understanding of one contributes to a clearer understanding of the other. ;The thesis is ordered as follows: A brief description and discussion of some conventional and philosophical ideas about loyalty. A description of some of the uses of the term as found in three former codes of Nursing ethics. A description of loyalty as a mode of bad faith . A description of loyalty as a mode of good faith . A discussion of loyalty as authentic commitment. A discussion of Nursing loyalty as authentic commitment . ;Such an inquiry is important because 'loyalty' when understood from one perspective tends to promote ethical behavior, but, when understood from another, tends to undermine the very nature of ethical process. Indeed, upon examination, 'loyalty' is a transitive relationship whose meaning and value is determined by the Gestalt foreground and background of both the loyal subject and the object of that loyalty. ;The thesis of this paper is stated in the form of a suggestion, 'when one recommends loyalty, one ought to not proceed from the simplifying assumption that the idea has fixed meaning'