ABSTRACT
In recent times, the application and experience of care in human services has been the subject of enquiry by practitioners, researchers, clients, the media and the judicial system. It is clearly evident that the vicissitudes of caring have need for change. Those with a deep desire for progressive and compassionate change have engaged with critical debate and proposed an ethic of care to address both the pragmatic and moral responsibilities of caring. But I ask is this enough, and why do we not aim higher by engaging with the universal notion of love? Love is regarded by some of the wisest and most influential humanitarians as the most powerful and transformative change agent. Its capacity to generate kindness, peace, equality and justice traverses all cultures, all creatures and all environments. It has no boundaries, and in a world beset by terror, fear, intolerance and suffering, love offers a personal and global spirit of universal responsibility and transformation. My chapter asks “Where is the love?” specifically in the context of social work. Finally, I propose an argument for the relevance of love in social work, and I argue that by asking where is the love, we move beyond the limitations of a traditional ethic of care.
