Epistemology, ontology and methodology: What's that got to do with social work?

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Abstract
This paper outlines the initial thinking, setting up and teaching of a module entitled the critical tradition for social work students. The intention was to introduce students to the wealth of philosophical and ethical knowledge that has been the underpinning of Western thought in general and social work knowledge in particular. At each stage of the process so many people asked the same question, 'what's that got to do with social work?' that it became clear that we had ventured upon a subject that needed to be debated and analysed. For some people there is an obvious connection to social work but for others it seems very far removed from what workers are expected to 'know' or 'do' as part of their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. It would appear that there is no consensus about the nature of social work knowledge, its philosophical base or its activity. We have, over the past few years, acted as if social work education were one particular type of activity. In fact it is a highly contested area of knowledge and thus more complex than we have been led to believe. This paper outlines an attempt to introduce students to ideas that problematise the nature of social work knowledge and encourages a more reflective practice.
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