This work proposes a theoretical reflection of the theme of social responsibility, based on a study of the articles presented in the annals of the ENANPAD (National Congress of the National Association of Postgraduate Studies in Business Administration), as well as a review of the literature most frequently cited in the annals, in order to gain a better understanding of the subject. The article presents a brief history of the subject and analyzes different possible approaches, based on the theoretical framework used in the history of the Congress up to 2006, two years after the creation of the area of social management, which led to a new, significantly wider cycle in the area. The theoretical reflection by the authors categorizes the subject into: Social Responsibility as a form of Modism; The Liberals, Neoliberals and similar groups; Social Legitimization; An Ethical Issue; and lastly, Corporate Social Responsibility.