The resources of sociology do not appear to have been extensively or systematically utilized in the study of social policy and administration. One source of evidence for this statement is the absence of explicit references to sociological theories in some of the most well known general texts on British social policy and administration. Pinker's recent analysis of social theory and social policy also lends support to the view that there has been, and still remains, something of a division between sociologists and students of social policy and administration. He concludes that the ‘founding fathers’ of sociology (Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Spencer) had a tendency to be ‘not greatly interested…(in)…remedies for social problems’, and makes the general observation that ‘sociologists have been oddly diffident about the subject-matter of social administration’, possibly because of the latter's atheoretical nature.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0047279400003019

Social policy and social change – explanations of the development of social policy

A comparison of social work practice in rural areas of the United States and Australia reflects similar characteristics. Findings add support to the assertion that there are particular qualities to...

Rural social work practice in the United States and Australia: A comparison

Spencer’s sustained opposition to statutory welfare provisions, based on his theory of social and general evolution, is generally familiar. Much less familiar, however, are his positive arguments, made at various points in his Principles of Sociology, Principles of Ethics and other places, in favour of what he calls ‘positive private beneficence’ (which today would be called ‘informal welfare’ or ‘informal care’). Unfamiliar also are his analysis of charitable organisations and his support for an expansion of the administration of civil justice to enhance welfare. In fact, Spencer was laying out a form of welfare pluralism at the close of the last century. This article explores these matters. In particular it argues that Spencer’s work on these matters, or rather its neglect, should be seen as significant in the history of social theory and welfare and in understanding the present day rediscovery of informal welfare. It also demonstrates that Spencer’s work on private beneficence and the administration of justice is important for understanding his theory of social evolution.

Spencer's future of welfare : a vision eclipsed

From 1836 almost until his death in 1903 Spencer wrote frequently on welfare matters, producing what must be counted as a major anempt at a sociological perspective on them. Yet this extensive body of literature has unaccountably not been examined thoroughly. This article attempts to remedy this state of affairs. It seeks to establish the nature of his comments on the many matters which attracted his attention. These include the Poor Law, sanitary reform, the rights of women and children, voluntary organisations and informal help. In the survey of what Spencer h ^ to say I have adopted a chronological approach; a thematic approach would not do justice to the need to locate Spencer's words in the context of his own evolution as a thinker. The article also aims to establish that his comments reflected a conviction that he had discovered the correct interpretation of the meaning of 'welfare' and discusses this interpretation by critical reference to the analyses offered in some recent philosophical studies. Spencer's insistence on not defining 'welfare' in terms of 'need' is identified as unusual and thought-provoking. A few words on the present state of knowledge seem desirable. Peel (1971) remains the most comprehensive account of Spencer's career but it can now be supplemented by Wiltshire (1978). However, neither book is systematically concerned with Spencer's treatment of welfare matters. With the exception of Pinker (1971) and perhaps Fine (1956) and Mishra (1977) references to Spencer in the specialist literature on welfare are very brief and confined to comments on his influence on policy, exemplified by the following from Bruce (1968, p. 122; compare Fraser, 1973, p.96 and Titmuss, 1974, p.31):

Spencer's sociology of welfare

In this paper I seek to delineate how the relationship between social work and sociology has been regarded in more recent years as represented by textbooks. In the light of such writing, I review t...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1473325020973300

Social work and sociology/sociology and social work: Peering back and forth:

This chapter provides an overview of sociology and social work. Sociology is increasingly seen as helping to provide a basis of knowledge on which the social worker can draw to work with clients in the context of the complex organizational settings of a modern society. Sociology is not the only social science that makes up this knowledge base. The whole range of the social sciences are at the disposal of the social worker or anybody who wishes to understand human society in a more systematic and scientific manner. Sociology had an important influence on social work in its formative years and played a part in the first courses of training for social workers. The early sociological influence on social work was based mainly on the evolutionary theories of Spencer that served to reinforce beliefs in the concept of personal inadequacy as the cause of social problems.

Brian J. Heraud

Papers

Sociology and Social Work—An Introduction