Academic education and their link to Social Work’s praxis

Abstract

Social Work is situated in the tension between theoretical knowledge and a knowledge that comes from professional intervention in social reality. In opposition to the history of Social Work in Brazil, the formation of Social Workers in Germany is struggling – since the beginning of the professionalization – for its academic recognition. The essay shows that the sub estimation of practical experience as a fountain of knowledge pertains to modern science which is based on the idea of an instrumental ratio. With the example of the history of the obstetricians as a professional will be remembered the classical concept oh “phrónesis” as a practical knowledge that attributes to Social Work – by the means of selfreflexion of the praxis in front of theory and vice versa – the quality of a comprehensive science, apt to found as well the praxis, as the theory and their mutual relationship.
Key words – Theory and praxis. Phrónesis. Comprehensive science. Professionalization. Social Work.