Professions
From ArticleWorld
A Profession has been defined as an activity that involves a responsibility to serve the public and has a multifaceted body of knowledge. It is also the term used to define a career or occupation, that is, a life-work chosen by a person to use personal talent while providing some service or goods, earning money and contributing to society. It generally requires special education, training and a strict code of ethics – especially in the liberal arts or sciences for example doctors have to take the Hippocratic Oath before embarking upon the profession of medicine.
To begin with there were only three main professions namely law, medicine and ministry. In this modern world there is no end to the variety of professions. The term is sometimes used as interchangeably with occupation. ‘Teacher’ is an example of an occupation.
History
The history of professions may be traced back to the days when only practicing law or medicine and taking the cloth or becoming a cleric were considered noble professions. The second son of a peer entering the military service this was also accorded the same social status as the other three.
A little late when schools became independent of church rooms and private nurseries, the profession of teaching was looked upon as a noble profession. With the world becoming increasingly technological and complex the term profession underwent a metamorphism of sorts and emerged as one that includes almost everything within its purview. This has come about due to specialization and super specialization that every modern occupation demands and requires.
A modern professional
A professional in today’s world requires certain typical and common characteristics:
- It should be a way of earning an income and
- It requires that the professional belong to a group, the entry to which is restricted and regulated, for example bar associations for lawyers.