A Genealogy of the Good and Critique of Hubris

A History of the Discourse on Social Welfare in the United States
Erscheinungsjahr 2023
ISBN: 978-0-19-767007-1
Verlag: Sydney University Press

Buch, Englisch, 440 Seiten, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 243 mm, Gewicht: 771 g

In A Genealogy of the Good and Critique of Hubris, Phillip Dybicz employs a deep historical analysis to the field of social welfare in a highly untraditional manner. Rather than seeking to map out a tale of linear progress and advancement in society's understanding of social welfare and its administration, this book seeks to address the following question: "Are we morally progressing in our understanding of social welfare and its administration?" Geared
toward both academics and practitioners, rather than focusing upon gains in technical know-how and knowledge of social welfare, Dybicz explores what gains are being made across various eras in our wisdom to humanely provide relief to those in our society that are oppressed, dispossessed, and in need in a manner
that avoids moral pitfalls such as social control.

Adopting Michael Foucault's genealogical method of historical investigation, Dybicz reaches back to the seventeenth century and describes four distinct eras in which a particular discourse dominated our understanding and efforts at social welfare. He examines how economic, political, social, and even geographic conditions shape society's perceived needs in social welfare. As well as examining how prominent intellectual thought, a philosophical paradigm describing reality and knowledge
generation, defining cultural features and themes, and concepts of the self, all serve to shape our understanding of social welfare and what its desired qualities and aims should be. Together, the above elements coalesce to form a grand discourse that in the Foucaultian tradition speaks to an underlying
urgent need of society, and various rules-of-right that shape knowledge generation.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Dybicz, Phillip

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Arbeit/Sozialpädagogik Soziale Dienste, Soziale Organisationen
• Rechtswissenschaften Berufs- und Gebührenrecht freie Berufe Rechtsanwälte und Notare

Über Autor(innen)

Phillip Dybicz is Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of North Alabama. He received his Ph.D. in 2006 at the University of Kansas, where he was fortunate to study under many of the key individuals who developed the strengths perspective. Bringing with him a keen appreciation of history, his exposure to postmodern thought led him to quickly embrace the works of Michael Foucault and to seek to emulate his genealogical method. His
research has concentrated upon taking various postmodern concepts and thoroughly describing how they have been applied in social welfare to inform innovative approaches based in postmodern thought-such as the strengths perspective, narrative therapy, and solutions-focused therapy.