Introduction

This chapter discusses how best to understand the moral conduct of a varied range of human occupations – has attracted ever increasing attention in the modern period. It explores that professional character and virtue have been the general concern of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham – under the aegis. The chapter concerns to clarify and re-affirm the aspiration to 'professional' status of a wide range of human occupations in terms of their potential and actual contribution to public good and service. It considers that of the somewhat vexed terminology of profession, professionalism and the professional have rather bedeviled modern-day professional ethics. The chapter also considers that include all forms of public service that seek to recognise in some more or less explicit way a significant moral dimension to their work. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.