Social Philosophy Has Its Place in Social Work Practice. Critically Analyse This Statement in Relation to Values and Ethical Thinking for Social Work Practice 2011/2012.
Social work as a discipline concentrates on theoretical and philosophical positions such as social justice, equality, and empowerment and these may be described as “philosophies of social work”.(Mackie, 2007)
Historically during social works early years, moral concerns laid the foundations for the development of social work and the principal values of the profession, with particular emphasis on the significance of individual worth and dignity and service to humanity (Bisman, 2004). Many of our contemporary professional social work values and ethics have been constructed on the basis of Kantian and Utilitarian philosophies and although mutually they are considered as alternatives; both theories of are based on the assumption of the human being as a freely acting individual and indeed the philosophies share and hold the following approaches:
• The moral value of individual persons as autonomous rational beings;
• The universality of values and principles;
• The possibility of deducing moral ‘laws’ through rational reflection; • The goal of individual liberty; freedom and emancipation and in the just ordering of a society.
Human rights and social justice are clearly draw from Kantian and Utilitarian social philosophies and today are regarded as fundamental principals in the practice of social work (Banks 2001).
In this paper the author will consider what social philosophy is and what effect if any it has on social work practice in 2011/2012.
Political philosophy is influenced by social philosophy which in turn has an impact on the work has carried out by social workers ‘a rigid demarcation between political and social philosophy is impossible, and social philosophers, have influenced recent political philosophy. Social philosophy also deals with philosophical issues relating to institutions such as the family, religion and education. (Bunmin, 2004)
Philosophers observed that the development of human behaviour was shaped by their social environment and
Historically during social works early years, moral concerns laid the foundations for the development of social work and the principal values of the profession, with particular emphasis on the significance of individual worth and dignity and service to humanity (Bisman, 2004). Many of our contemporary professional social work values and ethics have been constructed on the basis of Kantian and Utilitarian philosophies and although mutually they are considered as alternatives; both theories of are based on the assumption of the human being as a freely acting individual and indeed the philosophies share and hold the following approaches:
• The moral value of individual persons as autonomous rational beings;
• The universality of values and principles;
• The possibility of deducing moral ‘laws’ through rational reflection; • The goal of individual liberty; freedom and emancipation and in the just ordering of a society.
Human rights and social justice are clearly draw from Kantian and Utilitarian social philosophies and today are regarded as fundamental principals in the practice of social work (Banks 2001).
In this paper the author will consider what social philosophy is and what effect if any it has on social work practice in 2011/2012.
Political philosophy is influenced by social philosophy which in turn has an impact on the work has carried out by social workers ‘a rigid demarcation between political and social philosophy is impossible, and social philosophers, have influenced recent political philosophy. Social philosophy also deals with philosophical issues relating to institutions such as the family, religion and education. (Bunmin, 2004)
Philosophers observed that the development of human behaviour was shaped by their social environment and