Moral theory for social work

This article focuses on the need to develop ethical theory appropriate to the moral nature of social work practice. Common ethical theories originating in the traditions of philosophy are considered to be limited as guides to practice decisions. Instead, a perspective is proposed in which caring is recognized as a primary underlying good, a good integrally related to justice which has consistently been recognized as a professional value in social work. Feminist thought and virtue theory are discussed as resources in this effort to clarify these issues which are seen to be embedded in the nature of practice itself.