Philosophy in Social Work

Originally published in 1978, Philosophy in Social Work is a collection of papers that invites reflective consideration of the philosophical issues arising out of social work. The work stemmed from a series of meetings at the University of Glasgow, designed to encourage philosophers to look at traditional problems raised in the comparatively unfamiliar setting of social work and social service, and for social workers to see the place for philosophical reflection on what they are doing. Among the subjects discussed in the collection are discretion, rights, charity and the Welfare State, the morality of law and the politics of probation, authority and the social workers, and social work and ideology. The underlying theme of all the papers is the away in which philosophy can revive discussion of beliefs and values in social work. It also asks philosophers to intensify their treatment of concrete issues of social significance.