Professional Ethics from a Sociological and Philosophical Perspective

Abstract

This text constitutes a critical analysis of the vision of professional ethics elaborated by the functionalist perspective of the sociology of professions. The methodology of this analysis included the following aspects: a) to identify and develop the thesis and main arguments on professional ethics elaborated by the functionalist vision of the sociology of professions; b) to examine these theses and their arguments based on the approaches of the philosophical position of professional ethics, as well as the critical approach of the sociology of the professions; and c) to present and develop the contribution made by the functionalist perspective of the professions by establishing professional ethics as a component of modern professions. Likewise, to show that this vision is short and narrow to understand that professional ethics is more than a trait or characteristic of professions, given that it is currently conceived that such ethics is what gives meaning to modern professions. The critical analysis shows that the vision of professional ethics elaborated by the functionalist approach is determined by the conception of the professions of this current of the sociology of the professions. But, although this vision has limitations, it establishes that professional ethics is inherent in modern professions. While the critical position of the sociology of the professions reveals that, both the conception of the professions and that of professional ethics, are socio-historical concepts that evolve and are modified, largely defined by the economic, social, political and cultural historical moment. For its part, the philosophical perspective of professional ethics shows its aspects and dimensions that have not considered into account the different theoretical currents of the sociology of the professions and offers a theoretical horizon to understand and analyze modern professions in the philosophical framework.