A re‐conceptualization of the person and the internal‐external dichotomy present in theories that explain occupation

Abstract

When using theories to describe occupations, it is important to be aware of changes in thinking from other fields that affect some of the base assumptions present in those theories. Yerxa (1993) raised the concern that consciousness is required for engagement in occupation. This ties the study of occupation to the study of consciousness. In the philosophy of mind there have been changes in the understanding of consciousness. Some of the advances include Chalmers’ (1995b, 1996, 1997) naturalistic dualism and Lowe's (1999) ideas of the self as a non‐physical agent. These developments challenge the position that the human body is part of the person who engages in occupations. This is a common assumption in several theories of occupation. This article will challenge this assumption initially via a series of thought experiments. We then draw on philosophical works of Locke and Descartes, and the “I have a dream speech” of Martin Luther King Jr. to demonstrate the wider acceptance of the separation of human body and person. Accepting this new position would represent a significant shift in theories that describe occupation.