Scholarlink

<p>According to the so-called “Mitte Study” conducted by Bielefeld University (2025) more than one in ten Germans refuses to protect the fundamental rights of minorities. It is therefore not surprising that the term “moral courage” is being used more frequently in public debates, especially by politicians. But why is it that, on the one hand, standing up for a&#xa0;refugee as a&#xa0;private person is praised, while on the other hand, professional support for a&#xa0;person without residence papers by social workers can have negative legal consequences? Which criteria can be identified from an ethical perspective for socially courageous action—and how do these affect the identity of social work? To explore this, we will use the definition of moral courage and social courage to build a&#xa0;bridge to a&#xa0;controversial concept and an even more controversial practice—civil disobedience. Special focus will be placed on the question of justice, which is central to social work. Criteria which enable the profession and thus social workers to make exceptions to norms or legal requirements will be identified. This is necessary to insure the fairness of laws. In a&#xa0;final step, an ethical view of the implementation of norm adaptation will be taken by focusing on the virtue of <i>epikeia</i>. All these considerations will be incorporated into the conclusion, which advocates conceptualising and practicing social work as a&#xa0;“macro-practice.”</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Zwischen Legalität und Legitimität

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月7日

查看全文
  • Kristina Kieslinger

摘要

According to the so-called “Mitte Study” conducted by Bielefeld University (2025) more than one in ten Germans refuses to protect the fundamental rights of minorities. It is therefore not surprising that the term “moral courage” is being used more frequently in public debates, especially by politicians. But why is it that, on the one hand, standing up for a refugee as a private person is praised, while on the other hand, professional support for a person without residence papers by social workers can have negative legal consequences? Which criteria can be identified from an ethical perspective for socially courageous action—and how do these affect the identity of social work? To explore this, we will use the definition of moral courage and social courage to build a bridge to a controversial concept and an even more controversial practice—civil disobedience. Special focus will be placed on the question of justice, which is central to social work. Criteria which enable the profession and thus social workers to make exceptions to norms or legal requirements will be identified. This is necessary to insure the fairness of laws. In a final step, an ethical view of the implementation of norm adaptation will be taken by focusing on the virtue of epikeia. All these considerations will be incorporated into the conclusion, which advocates conceptualising and practicing social work as a “macro-practice.”