Rethinking Michael D. Bayles’ Classic Definition of a Professional: Ethics in the 21st Century

Michael Bayles’ 1981 definition of a profession is over 40 years old, yet it still holds as the classic understanding of a professional. Originally outlined in Professional Ethics, Bayles lays out the components and delineations of what makes a profession. Based on this definition, one can expound on the ethical implications and obligations of those who qualify as professionals. This of course is the scope of what moral philosophers seek to do in the field of professional ethics.

Bayles’ definition contains three central tenants or requirements for someone to be a professional. First, a professional must have extensive training. Bayles doesn’t mean a weekend crash course. The most common form of extensive training is an undergraduate college degree, while many professionals go on to acquire advance graduate degrees. Second, the labor must be identified as having a significant intellectual component. He gives the example of a surgeon. While the surgeon may be involved in the physical labor of surgery, the primary aspect of the work is still intellectual. Lastly, the professional must provide a significant service to society. All jokes aside, lawyers provide a vital service and our current society would not be able to function if we did not have lawyers.