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Global ethics for social work? In English we use the term ‘ethics’ when talking about norms and standards relating to how people should treat each other, what actions are right or wrong and which qualities of character are good or bad. It is a confusing term, as it has both a plural and a singular sense. In its plural sense, ‘ethics’ is used to refer to norms or standards relating to right/wrong conduct or good/bad qualities of character. For example, we might say of someone that ‘her ethics are very narrow’. Sometimes we use the term ‘morals’ to mean the same as ‘ethics’ in the plural sense. ‘Ethics’ in its singular sense refers to a set of norms, a theoretical system (e.g., Kantian ethics) or a subject area that covers norms of right/wrong conduct and qualities of good/bad character. In this sense, the term ‘ethics’ may be used interchangeably with ‘moral philosophy’. Sometimes we use the term ‘morality’ to mean the same as ethics in the singular sense. A further complication is added by the fact that the terms ‘morals’ and ‘morality’ are often used to mean the same as ‘ethics’ (plural) and ‘ethics’ (singular). However, some theorists make a distinction between morals as externally imposed normative standards or prevailing societal norms, and ethics as internally generated (personal) norms. In this book we do not make this distinction, and use the terms ethics and morals interchangeably. In some languages there is apparently no direct equivalent of the term ‘ethics’. Gyekye (2010) gives the example of sub-Saharan African languages. This does not mean, however, that there are no normative concepts of right and wrong conduct or good and bad character in those languages and societies. But it does mean that these facets of human existence and behaviour are conceptualised in different ways. The construction of ‘ethics’ as a discrete area of study, and the separation of the ethical from the practical, technical, political, cultural and religious dimensions of life is perhaps more commonly understood and accepted in the global North and West than in the South and East. On the other hand, in all parts of the world there is a recognisable normative discourse covering questions such as: ‘What kinds of people should we be?’ ‘What kinds of lives should we live?’ and ‘How should we act?’ The questions are recognisable, although the answers given will vary enormously between different societies, as will the extent to which the answers are inextricably linked with culture, religion and political ideology. Whilst the use of the term ‘ethics’ may leave us open to accusations of Western and Northern imperialism (as with the human rights discourse of the United Nations declarations), we wish to use the term in a broad, inclusive and critical sense. We acknowledge, however, that ‘ethics’ is a construction that may have more meaning in some parts of the world than others. In a social work context, just as theories, models and practices of social work have been exported from the global North and West to the South and East, so the concept of social work ethics as a separate area of study and practice is also being exported. So it will be very important for academics and practitioners across the world to take a critical approach to the subject area itself (considering what constitutes the domain of the ethical) as well as the content of this subject area (Western conceptions of individual rights, confidentiality, privacy and non-discrimination).

Answer 1

Ethics are mainly the norms and standards that are to be used while treating others and deciding rights and wrongs. This term includes both singular and plural terms where plural meaning is used to reflect the right/wrong conduct or good/bad qualities, on the other hand, a set of norms, a theoretical system indicates the singular form of the ethics. There is always confusion to use ‘morals’ and ‘morality’ as same. The book mainly used ethics and morals interchangeably. Some cultures and languages such as Sub Saharan African languages do not have clear terms for ethics. This indicates that these cultures have different ways of dealing with rights and wrongs. There is a universal awareness about the ideal qualities of the person, the actions of the person but these are dealt with by different societies differently. The term ethics has more value in some parts of the world than the rest of the part. When it comes to the social work context, there is a new field that is termed as social work ethics and thus having a critical viewpoint of this will be important both in terms of the subject area and its content