THE SHAKY HIGH MORAL GROUND OF POSTMODERNIST “ETHICS”

Abstract

Hölscher’s (2005) question, “Does postmodernism have a moral, ethical and values base?” appears as something of a paradox. But, as she rightly recognises, she is not the first to ask the question. In posing this question, Hölscher is merely following a long line of scholars, including Bauman, whose Postmodern Ethics (1993) form the theoretical backdrop to her discussion, and Foucault, whose ideas have been more influential than Bauman’s on social work thinking (Chambon, Irving & Epstein, 1999; Hugman, 2003, 2005). In the social sciences Bauman (1995), Benhabib (1992), Foucault (2000) and Young (1990) have grappled with the implications of postmodernism for ethics and morality. In social work Atherton and Bollard (2003), Gray (1995), Hugman (2003, 2005), Parton (1994) and Walker (2001), among others, have critically examined the ethical implications of the so-called “postmodern turn” in social work. In this paper the authors draw on the work of Berman (2000) in trying to unravel the high moral ground of postmodernism; engage in a re-evaluation of the impact of key figures in modern Western philosophy such as Wittgenstein and, especially, Habermas; and consider the implications of their work for social work.

Keywords

• morals
• social work thinking
• ethics
• postmodernist ethics