The term Profession means an avocation whose activities are subjected to theoretical
analysis, and are modified by theoretical conclusions derived from that
analysis. This analysis has regard to the purpose of the avocation and to the
adaptation of the activities for the attainment of those purposes. Such
criticism must be founded upon some understanding of the natures of the things
involved in those activities, so that the results of action can be foreseen.
Thus foresight based on theory, and theory based upon understanding of the
nature of things, are essentialto a profession. Again
the purposes of a profession are not a simple bundle of definite ends. There
is a general purpose, such as the curing of sickness, which defines medicine.
But in a multitude of ways every human body might be in a better state of
biological fitness, and might easily be worse. 'rhere has in every case to be a selection of ends
dependent partly on intrinsic importance if attained, and partly upon
practicability of attainment. It is for this reason that the practiceof a profession cannot be disjoined from its
theoretical understanding and vice versa. We do however find it necessary to
specialize even further, not only within some department of that profession,
such as surgery, but also either to a major consideration of its theory or to a
major devotion to its current practice.
The antithesis to a profession is an
avocation based upon customary activities and modified by the trial and error
of individual practice. Such an avocation is a Craft, or at a lower level of
individual skill it is merely a customary direction of muscular labour. The ancient civilizations were dominated by crafts.
Modern life ever to a greater extent is grouping itself into professions. Thus
ancient society was a co-ordination of crafts for the instinctive purposes of
communal life, whereas modern society is a co-ordination of professions.
Without question the distinction between crafts and professions is not
clear-cut. In all stages of civilization, crafts are shot through and through
with flashes of constructive understanding, and professions are based upon
inherited procedures. Nor is it true that the type of men
involved are to be ranked higher in proportion to the dominance of
abstract mentality in their lives. On the contrary, a due proportion of craftsmanship
seems to breed the finer types. The brilliant ability, in proportion to
population, of
The organization of professions by means
of self-governing institutions places the problem of liberty at a new angle.
For now it is the institution which claims liberty and also exercises control.
In ancient