Initially published in 1974, this is a work of applied social and political philosophy which relates the philsophical analysis to various forms of community work theory and practice. Raymond Plant emphasizes that 'community' has a wide range of both descriptive meanings and evaluative connotations, linking this dual role of the word in the description and evaluation of social experience to its history in ideological confrontations. The book takes account of some liberal criticisms of the community ideal, and finally seeks to re-state a theory of community compatible with a liberal ideology.

Part 1: Philosophy and Community Work Part 2: Community as Fact and Value Part 3: The Liberal Community and Community Work Part 4: Human Nature, Community and the Concept of Mental Health Part 5: Postscript: Community Work and Social Casework