Virtue Ethics and Professional Roles

Professionals,itissaid,havenouseforsimplelistsofvirtuesandvices.Thecomplexitiesandconstraintsofprofessionalrolescreatepeculiarmoraldemandsonthepeoplewhooccupythem,andtraitsthatarevicesinordinarylifearepraisedasvirtuesinthecontextofprofessionalroles.Shouldthisdisturbus,orisitnaivetopresumethatthingsshouldbeotherwise?Takingmedicalandlegalpracticeaskeyexamples,JustinOakleyandDeanCockingdeveloparigorousarticulationanddefenceofvirtueethics,contrastingitwithothertypesofcharacter-basedethicaltheoriesandshowingthatitoffersapromisingnewapproachtotheethicsofprofessionalroles.Theyprovideinsightsintothecentralnotionsofprofessionaldetachment,professionalintegrity,andmoralcharacterinprofessionallife,anddemonstratehowavirtue-basedapproachcanhelpusbetterunderstandwhatethicalprofessional-clientrelationshipswouldbelike.