UVSRPHP030 Philosophy and Ethics in Social Work

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
13/13/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petr Slováček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Petr Slováček, Ph.D.
Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Contact Person: JUDr. Marie Sciskalová, Ph.D.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
FAKULTA(FVP) && TYP_STUDIA(N) && FORMA(P)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
2. The course Philosophy and ethics in social work is aimed at supplementing knowledge directly connected to the issues of ethics in the context of social work.Specifically, this means that the course will focus on the concept of “human nature” in a contemporary philosophical discourse, which reflects the modern development of knowledge in the fields of anthropology, evolutionary biology and neuroscience.From this perspective, there will be a comprehensive development the fruits of which are routinely applied not only on the human rights level, but also on the professionally ethical level (in our case, above all, in ethics of social work).An integral part of the course will also consist of familiarizing students with the standards of social work.
Learning outcomes
Students will understand the basic concepts that are related to ethical issues. They will also be able to identify basic ethical strategies as well as their weaknesses. Students will also know the basic normative documents of their practice.
Syllabus
  • 1. The broader context of ethical issues ˗ fundamental problems within the realm of ethics as the study of morality
  • 2. Professional ethics and its specifics ˗ development of professional ethics since the 1970s.Century
  • 3. The concept of “human nature” from the standpoint of evolutionary biology
  • 4. The concept of “human nature” from the standpoint of anthropology
  • 5. The concept of “human nature” from the standpoint of neuroscience
  • 6. The relationship of nature and nurture ˗ “nature of man” and cultural environment, the relationship of reciprocity; introduction to basic processes (trends) significantly (revolutionarilly) changing behaviour and criteria of human behaviour
  • 7. Pacification process - the process of transition from hunting, hunter-gatherer and early agricultural societies to the first centralized agricultural societies, the importance of this trend.
  • 8. Civilization process – conditions of extreme (10 to 15 fold) reduction in crime between the late Middle Ages and the 20th century.
  • 9. Humanitarian revolution – the importance of the Enlightenment and European rationalism in shaping standards of morality
  • 10. Long Peace – post-World War II conditions leading to the reduction of conflicts between powers, the consequences of this long peace on the perception of morality
  • 11. The New Peace ˗ further reducing tolerance for violence and the consequences of this process.
  • 12. Rights Revolution ˗ outline of human rights issues since 1948
  • 13. Standards of social work in a broader context
Literature
    required literature
  • Sapolsky, R., Chování. Biologie člověka v dobrém i ve zlém. Argo/Dokořán 2019.
  • Peterson, J. B., 12 pravidel pro vedení života. Argo 2019.
  • Riddley, M., Červená královna. Sexualita a vývoj lideské přirozenosti. Argo/Dokořán 2017.
  • Fischer, O., Milfait, R., Etika pro sociální práci. JABOK 2008.
  • Jankovský, J. Etika pro pomáhající profese. 2., akt. a dopl. vyd. Praha: Stanislav Juhaňák - Triton, 2018.
  • Kutnohorská, J., Cichá, M., Goldmann, R. Etika pro zdravotně sociální pracovníky. Praha: Grada, 2011.
  • Blecha, I. Filosofie. 4. opr. a rozš. vyd. Olomouc: Nakladatelství Olomouc, 2002.
    recommended literature
  • Pinker, S., The Better Angels of Our Nature. Penguin Books 2011.
  • Sapolsky, R., Why Zebras don´t get Ulcers. St. Martin´s Griffin 1998.
  • Dawkins, R., Největší show pod sluncem: důkazy evoluce. Argo/Dokořán 2011.
  • Gat, A., The Human Motivational Complex: Evolutionary Theory and the Causes of Hunter-Gatherer Fighting. Part I: Primary Somatic and Reproductive Causes. Anthropological Quarterly 2000, 73 (č. 1), s. 20-34.
  • Gat, A., The Human Motivational Complex: Evolutionary Theory and the Causes of Hunter-Gatherer Fighting. Part II: Proximate, Subordinate, and Derivative Causes. Anthropological Quarterly 2000, 73 (č.2), s. 74-88.
Teaching methods
Lecture, seminar (PF).
Assessment methods
Active participation in seminars, final presentation.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2020, Summer 2021, Summer 2022, Summer 2023, Summer 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2025, recent)
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