The author of this book challenges social work to reinvent itself in response to clients' changing needs in the world of today. Wilbur's four major areas of human development—individual, collective, interior, and exterior—are used as the model for application to social work. Part One covers the emerging theories of science—global survival, ecology, physics, and evolution. Part Two covers the evolutionary technologies—biological, mental, environmental, and spiritual.

Each chapter covers a major scientific/technological change, followed by the proposed social work response. The text is grounded in human development theory and bridges the gap between theory and practice. There are practical, specific suggestions for social workers in each area.

You'll find in each chapter descriptions of emerging research and wisdom-based theories. They are followed by discussions of their implications for social work practice. This will change readers to include new values in their practice paradigms. The book includes individual and group exercises that provides experimental learning opportunities related to each chapter.

Contents

1. Introduction

Part One - Emerging Theories in Science
2. Global Survival
3. Revaluing the Ecological Perspective: Person Is Environment
4. Revaluing Physics: What is the Matter With Social Work
5. Revaluing Evolution: Evolutionary Social Work

Part Two - Evolutionary Technologies
6. Biological Technology: Evolving the Body
7. Mental Technology: Evolving the Mind
8. Environmental Technology: Evolving the Environment
9. Spiritual Technology: Evolving Consciousness

192 pages

0309/192/ISBN 978-0-89108-306-1

2004 $34.95