Introduction

The intersection between philosophy and social work needs little justification. The space for in-depth theoretical discussion within pre-registration social work programmes has often been limited by the perception that it competes with the practical skills-based work of qualificatory education, a perception often shared not only between students but also between government policy-makers. Reflection on the social context of human life appeared together with the human capacity to think about oneself, a capacity marking the beginnings of philosophy. This interpretative aspect underlies the approach of this book precisely because philosophy and social work share an essential relation whereby they are both, fundamentally, about thinking and acting both within and beyond culture. Textbooks on philosophical ethics will frequently point out that while professions rely on ethical codes; these are not really the subject of philosophy: they are, instead, simply rules to follow For example; Alex Barber suggests that courses on vocational ethics sometimes contain elements of moral philosophy.