Understanding Professionalism

Professional Ethics

• Profession is now seen as an occupation requiring specific skill and knowledge, often applied to the affairs of others or an art form.
• Professionalism necessitates extensive training, often intellectual in nature.
• Professionals usually hold vital knowledge and skills essential for societal well-being, particularly in scientifically and technologically advanced societies.
• Professions often have a monopoly or considerable control over their service areas.
• Professionals usually have autonomy in their work environments.
• Professionals typically claim to be ethically regulated and governed by a code of ethics.

A Socratic Account of Professionalism

• A profession consists of multiple individuals, not just one person.
• Professions inherently involve a public element; individuals openly profess their profession (e.g., physician, attorney).
• A profession is a way of earning a living.
• A profession is usually a continuing occupational commitment.
• People choose a profession voluntarily and can leave it voluntarily.
• Professionals strive for morally praiseworthy goals using permissible means.
• Professionals should aim for ethical standards exceeding mere legal, market, and public opinion requirements.

Types of Ethics or Morality

• Common morality encompasses universally shared moral beliefs (e.g., against murder, lying, and theft).
• Personal ethics are a person's own moral beliefs, which can sometimes differ from common morality, especially when the latter is unclear or changing.
• Professional ethics outlines standards for professionals acting in their professional capacity.

Two Models of Professionalism

• The business model views professions as profit-seeking activities, subject to legal constraints.
• The professional model emphasizes trust, an implicit social contract where professionals regulate to promote public good.

Human Values

• Morals are principles for well-being, based on experience and wisdom.
• Morality explores questions like "What should be done?", "What is right/wrong?", and "What is good/bad about the elements involved in a situation?".
• Values guide our success by establishing standards for acceptable actions.

Five Core Human Values

• Right Conduct, Peace, Truth, Love, and Non-Violence

Values Related to Right Conduct

• Self-help skills (possessions, diet, hygiene, etc.), Social skills (behavior, manners, relationships), and ethical skills (conduct, courage, dependability, efficiency, responsibility).

Values Related to Peace

• Attention, calmness, concentration, dignity, discipline, equality, fairness, focus, gratitude.
• Happiness, harmony, humility, inner silence, optimism, patience, reflection, satisfaction.
• Self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-control, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-respect, sense control, tolerance, understanding.

Values Related to Truth

• Accuracy, curiosity, discernment, fairness, fearlessness, honesty.
• Integrity, intuition, justice, optimism, purity, quest for knowledge.
• Reason, self-analysis, sincerity, the spirit of enquiry, synthesis, trust, truthfulness, and determination.

Values Related to Love

• Acceptance, affection, care, compassion, consideration, dedication, devotion, empathy, forbearance.
• Forgiveness, friendship, generosity, gentleness, humanness, interdependence.
• Kindness, patience, patriotism, reverence, sacrifice, selflessness, service, sharing, sympathy.
• Thoughtfulness, tolerance, and trust.

Values Related to Non-Violence

• Benevolence, compassion, concern for others, consideration, forbearance, forgiveness, manners.
• Happiness, harmony, loyalty, morality, national awareness, perseverance, respect, and social justice.
• Universal love, appreciation of other cultures/religions, and brotherhood.

Perseverance

• Perseverance emphasizes persistence, determination, resolution, tenacity, dedication, commitment, consistency, steadfastness, stamina, endurance, and indefatigability.

Accuracy

• Accuracy involves freedom from mistakes and errors, conforming to truth or a standard, exactness, authenticity and correctness.

Discernment

• Discernment is the ability to see or understand what is not obvious, perceive, penetrate and gain insight involving, accuracy, especially in understanding character or motives.

Valuing Time

• Time is a very valuable resource and once lost, it can never be regained.
• Procrastination is detrimental to time management.

Cooperation

• Cooperation is the essence of a 'team-spirit' amongst individuals working towards common goals.
• This includes individuals in engineering, sectors, individuals and organization cooperating together.

Commitment

• Commitment is alignment with goals and adhering to ethical principles during activities.
• For example, for a project design engineer to work for the benefits of the society.

Empathy

• Empathy is sensing what others feel without direct talk.
• It involves showing concern and understanding feelings to develop a good sense of human relations.

Self-Confidence

• Self-confidence is certainty in one's capabilities, values, and goals.
• It is a positive attitude, characterized by flexibility and a willingness to change.

Spirituality

• Spirituality recognizes the spiritual dimension of humans and nature.
• It's a balanced blend of material and spiritual development.
• Fosters creativity, respect for others, acceptance of different viewpoints, and a shared sense of responsibility

Ethics

• The study of ethics involves understanding people's beliefs, values, and morals to guide actions and maximize well-being.
• Ethical considerations impact a wide range of areas (history, region, religion, society, and language).
• Ethics tries to universally apply principles, despite variations across cultures and time periods.
• Professional ethics guide and regulate certain professions.

Work Ethics

• Work ethics guides attitudes related to the value of work.
• Aims at ensuring an active economy, productivity, safety, and healthy work conditions.
• Addresses wealth creation, income, family provision, and employee welfare.

Integrity

• Maintaining integrity means unity of thought, word, and deed.
• This includes honesty and open-mindedness, enabling well-informed decision-making.
• Ethical conduct is essential for success, demonstrating responsibility and self-respect.
• Moral integrity is consistency of attitudes, emotions, and conduct aligned with justified moral values.

Civic Virtues

• Civic virtues are moral duties and rights of citizens within their communities and countries.
• Duties may include paying taxes, maintaining the community, and respecting rules.
• Rights may include voting, seeking facilities, and the right to a safe environment or to challenge the local or state government through public interest petitions.
• Civic values, like knowledge, self-restraint, self-assertion and self-reliance, promote well-being at both the individual and societal levels.

Caring

• Caring is feeling for others and exhibiting support for their welfare.
• This involves fairness and justice in all situations.