… The Truth is No Longer Out There

Abstract

Western scientific endeavour, for the past 200 years, has been directed towards uncovering the laws that govern the physical universe. Truth has been seen as existing independently of human activity, and all that is required to discover it is to make accurate and objective observations which lead to rational conclusions. The second half of the 20th century has been characterised by an increasing awareness that knowledge can never be truly objective. With this realisation, the pursuit of truth has given way to a greater acceptance of diversity, complexity and uncertainty in a shift of perspective called postmodernism. Occupational therapists have been traditionally concerned with the details of everyday life as lived by ordinary people. The goals of intervention are individual, contextual, discrete and diverse. Practice is based on pragmatism rather than on abstract principles. This article provides an introduction to a complex topic and argues that occupational therapy can best be understood and valued from a postmodernist perspective.