The Corona Virus Pandemic – Threat, Crisis or Opportunity for Social Work?

Jindrich Srajer

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The article reflects on the requirement of an interdisciplinary approach and its form as proposed by theologian Rian Venter, considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique challenges contained in it for social work. THEORETICAL BASE: The text is based on professional articles and literature, especially Theology, philosophy of biology and virology: An interdisciplinary conversation in the time of COVID-19 by Venter. METHODS: The theoretical article demonstrates the need for a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the recent pandemic. Its contribution is demonstrated in Venter’s exclusive position. This allows for its more precise understanding of reality itself and of the essence of social work. OUTCOMES: The necessity and usefulness of an interdisciplinary approach presented by Venter is demonstrated for a more sensitive and differentiated perception of reality, including social work in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: The text presents the concept of ethics in the framework of social work, which the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted. It is a concept of ethics associated with uncertainty and indeterminacy, with a permanent willingness to commit oneself for the sake of the other, to solidarity and to self-denial.

Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, theology, philosophy of biology, virology, interdisciplinarity, social work, ethics

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