The ethical paradigms within the field of social work consist of conceptual frameworks comprised of values and principles that serve as guiding principles for social workers in their interactions with clients, colleagues, and the broader community. The paradigms offer a range of perspectives regarding the process of ethical decision-making, including deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, care ethics, and discourse ethics.
Published in Chapter:
Ethical Foundations and Axiological Frameworks in Social Work: Enhancing Community Welfare
Abdullah Al-Mamun (Sunway University, Malaysia), Dunima Dharmasiri (Lincoln University College, Malaysia),
Sivasegaran Nadarajan (Lincoln University College, Malaysia),
Zulkarnain A. Hatta (Lincoln University College, Malaysia), and Md. Shahgahan Miah (Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh)
Copyright: © 2024
|Pages: 21
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-8526-2.ch003
Abstract
This chapter explores the intricacy of ethical frameworks in Social Work, specifically emphasizing virtue ethics, deontology, and utilitarianism. It thoroughly analyses the incorporation of Indigenous perspectives and evaluates the pragmatic effectiveness of these frameworks to foster comprehensive, culturally responsive, and ethically grounded approaches to community welfare. The chapter employs a thorough analytical methodology for a detailed literature and theoretical review. The findings illuminate the crucial significance of virtue ethics, deontology, and utilitarianism in directing ethical decision-making in social work. Incorporating Indigenous viewpoints enriches cultural comprehension and empathy, enabling social workers to adopt a comprehensive and ethically principled methodology. This change in thinking represents a notable change towards inclusive and thorough ethical decision-making within diverse communities.