presence theory

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?

Aiming at contact. Relational caring and the everyday interaction as effective principles in clinical forensic care

Petra Schaftenaar, member of the research network Critical Ethics of Care, presents a summary of the results of her PhD-thesis Aiming at contact. Relational caring and the everyday interaction as effective principles in clinical forensic care (2018) in the following article. Continue reading Aiming at contact. Relational caring and the everyday interaction as effective principles in clinical forensic care