Reviewing the historical materialism in occupational therapy: the professional, ethical and political role in the contemporary

Occupational therapy in Brazil has been consolidating a diversity of actions in different fields that reflects the engagement of occupational therapists in Brazilian society. At the end of the 1980s, some theoretical formulations around occupational therapy epistemological bases, especially the materialist-historical perspective, contributed to the reflection and review of professional practice, defending professional engagement in social demands. Through a systematic literature review, this text aims to reflect and update on the concepts brought by materialism-historical adding for the discussion of the ways of life and their projection in the methodological field theoretical background of the intervention of occupational therapy. Through an analysis of profession “classic” texts from the 1980's and 1990's decades, that discussed the materialist historical perspective, the arguments presented are related trough their relevance and contemporaneity in theoretical perspective defending a professional practice that is based on professional, ethical and political approaches, responding to the demands and challenges of contemporary society