Talk About Ethics And Professionalism

The Social Importance of Professional Ethics

The social impact of professional ethics is paradoxical. Moore points out the small proportion of those employed in the wrold that are even approximately professional. This included only 6 to 8 percent of the work force in the most professionalized countries of Western Europe, Canada, and the United States in 1945. More significant is the pettern of growth in industrial countries and in underdeveloped countries as they industrialize. The number of professionals increased from about 4 percent in 1900 to 8 percent in 1945, 12 percent in 1950, and 13 percent in 1966. Throughout the world, professionalization of occupations accompanies the application of technological knowledge to the solution of human problems.

A professional:

• Is responsible for his own actions and cannot rely on any external authority to make his decisions for him.

• Cannot ignore ethical and moral issues.

• Must make sure that he is solving the real problem, not simply providing short-term satisfaction to his supervisor.

• Shouldn’t hesitate to “blow the whistle”.

The Importance of Professional Ethics to the Individual

Whether or not one approves of the present state of society, one must live with it. One needs a personal ethic pending its reform. Work is a central part of live, so one needs a work ethic to function in an imperfect society. All men and a growing percent age of women are expected to "earn a living" by going out into the workplace. Even those who remain in the home are expected to put in a full day's work. It is no longer morally acceptable to devote one's life to amusement, even if one has the resources to do so.