Home – Home – Jornals – "Philosophy of Education" 2014 number 2

The authors analyze the content and meaning of modern development of the Russian professional social education, reveal its philosophical foundations. In the context of current scientific approaches of philosophy of education, there is discussed the specifics of the educational system and the training of social workers. The article reflects the historical context of the development of social and philosophical knowledge, in general, and the philosophy of education, in particular. The role of Russian scientists is emphasized in the development of problems of professional social knowledge; a special attention is paid to the studies of the Barnaul scientific school of sociology and social work under the supervision of Professors S. Grigoryev and L. G. Guslyakova; their basic scientific works are analyzed. The paper presents an analysis of professional education in social work from the standpoint of philosophy of education. In the ontological aspect, philosophy of education is a coherent doctrine concerning the vocation, place, role, content, forms and methods of education. In the epistemological aspect, it is the most general system of knowledge and methodological views in education. In addition, the authors propose a methodology of paradigmatic analysis of professional education in social work as an object of social-philosophical studies. There are substantiated the necessity and possibility, as well as mechanisms of social-philosophical studies (the paradigmatic analysis) of the formation and functioning of professional education in social work in contemporary Russia. There are two main areas of theoretical-methodological development of the «Social Work» profession. The first assumes that the responsibility of social workers is to care for people in need, providing them with the necessary assistance. Such an approach we call narrowly pragmatic or technocratic, but that it is exactly this approach that is objectively necessary and possible in the society of militant individualism subordinated by the goal of maximizing the profit. The second trend suggests that, in addition to providing the necessary needy of social services, the main tasks of social workers will be activation and development of their spiritual and physical strength with the intention that these people would not feel disadvantaged; social workers will be encouraged in every way to help them determine their place in the full-scale social life and realize their creative potential. It may be noted as a positive fact the recently increased attentionfrom the state and Russian public to the persons with disabilities, as well as the practice of special sporting events, competitions, etc.