The theory of social work from polish perspective

Abstract

In this article, the theory of social work will be discussed more specifically. By "theory of social work" I mean the field of science, the subject of which is the practice of social work. The primary aim of this chapter is to present it as the science and not only describe various theories developed in the context of this doctrine. Before moving on to discuss the theory of social work as a science, we turn attention to certain difficulties inherent in this type of projects. It is first and foremost about the problems associated with the ambiguity of the basic concepts, which of necessity must be used in this kind of characteristics. Let us, for example, note that the definition of social work as a set of steps leading to a particular purpose, in fact, is highly inaccurate, as this concept contains such terms as the "action" and "purpose", and many other equally ambiguous. These concepts can be found in many areas of knowledge (ethics, psychology, sociology, etc.), which give them different and sometimes incompatible meanings. Speaking therefore about social work theory, methods, object etc., one should be aware that all of these concepts can be defined in different ways, and each definition of social work theory is merely a general approximation of what is actually being done in research work by the theorists.