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Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Free will-determinism; social workers; clients' issues; responsibilities; controversy;
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The Free Will-Determinism Debate And Social Work, Frederic Reamer
The Free Will-Determinism Debate And Social Work, Frederic Reamer
Frederic G Reamer
Social workers'judgments about the determinants of clients' problems have a substantial effect on practitioners' willingness to provide assistance. There is considerable variation in professionals' beliefs about the extent to which clients are themselves responsible for their difficulties, as opposed to factors that are beyond their control. This article examines the philosophical controversy known as the free will-determinism debate, and assesses its implications for the profession of social work.