Troubling polarization and, in the worst case, escalating political and ideological contradictions are of all times, but which dynamics are at stake in the current late modern era with its diversity of manifestations of power? Taking this matter into account, our critical care-ethical perspective on a seemingly polarized world addresses in this context questions concerning the human emotional dimension, (societal) relationships, institutional aspects and implicit as well as explicit power plays. Member of our board of editors, Silke Jacobi wrote the following article about polarization. Continue reading Political polarization in (late) modern times
Author: Silke Jacobi
Looking at a cuckoo’s egg: Aspects of the corona-crisis in a Dutch context
Corona-crisis: is this a time for reflections on political consequences of this crisis, such as ‘lessons learned’? Or is it a time when the suffering and anxiety of many come so close to home that any kind of reflection could easily take the shape of a shortcut to new and ‘better principles for the world’?
Continue reading Looking at a cuckoo’s egg: Aspects of the corona-crisis in a Dutch context
Problem or “mystery” in Care and Social Work?
Social professionals’ view of the good life and vulnerability determines what is seen as a problem and how it is tackled. The French philosopher Gabriel Marcel proposes the notion of “mystery” as an alternative to thinking in terms of problems.
Our editors Silke Jacobi and Ivonne Hoen attended a symposium (1) questioning the problem- and solution-oriented approach in social work getting in the way of the social worker’s “knowing”. They regard this a topical issue, in the symposium related to the phenomenological “mystery” notion of Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973).
Continue reading Problem or “mystery” in Care and Social Work?
The fragile voices from the work floor. Care-ethical power issues reconsidered
Social worker Silke Jacobi MA considers in the summary of her care-ethical thesis (2019) the possibilities of more impact and (political) participation of the institutional care-worker in an ambiguous neo-liberal context. Continue reading The fragile voices from the work floor. Care-ethical power issues reconsidered
Frans Vosman, minima moralia and the institutional question
Editor Silke Jacobi reflects on the significance of Frans Vosman’s essential notion of ‘minima moralia’ for her master thesis on contemporary institutional aspects as well as in her professional practice. Continue reading Frans Vosman, minima moralia and the institutional question