Ethicalization of Social Work and Socialization of Ethics―An African Challenge

Abstract

Ethics in social work will be the extension of the philosophical work in the welfare discipline known as social work. The transformation of social work as a profession flows from the pleadings of social philosophy for a deeper humanitariannization and valuation of social work. It is the marriage of the wise ones with the kind ones. Philosophy being seen as a disciple that creates professionally wise ones while social work is seen as the discipline that creates human welfare workers that help to alleviate the personal and societal problems of man. Ethical education will lead to ethicalization of social work and the socialization of ethics. More people in social work will work in accordance with the values of ethical propriety while ethics will be socialized and popular. This article takes note of the fact that ethics education in social philosophy and social work practice has dramatically evolved over decades in response to cultural and technological changes affecting social work practice in Africa. This ethicalization will lead to the transformation of a profession in a continent filled poverty and social challenges in the 21st century. This is the conjunction of ethicalization and socialization as a social philosophy for achieving a paradigm change in Africa for social workers and practical philosophers of change.