¿Cuáles son las virtudes morales para ser una buena trabajadora social? Aproximación de la ethica cordis de Adela Cortina al Trabajo Social

Abstract

According to some experimental studies carried out in Spain (Martín, 2011; De la Red et al., 2018), social workers in Spain know the deontological code but do not use it. In this respect, Banks (2021) indicates that the ethics of virtues may be universally more acceptable than the currently predominant approach based on principles and rights. Could virtues resolve the existing gap between the assertions and the actions of social workers? Faced with the current incoherence between ethical thought and ethical action, Adela Cortina proposes the ethica cordis through which she transmits the importance of encouraging ethical virtues. To do this, the aim of this work is to firstly briefly explain Adela Cortina’s contribution, then to link it to Social Work. A historical-systematic methodology has been employed. The novelty of this article is that it is the first time Adela Cortina’s work has been linked to Social Work, and that the need for an internal debate within the profession is proposed, regarding the sense and significance that the ethical virtues that shape their identity should have in Spain.