The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Professions as Science-Based Occupations

På svenska

Author

  • Thomas Brante

Summary, in English

How professions should be defined and separated from other occupations has constituted an enduring theoretical and empirical problem in studies of the professions. In this article, the definitions of the so-called list approaches, involving enumerations of social attributes, are scrutinized. Weak-nesses are highlighted and analysed. It is argued that an alternative approach to the issue of definition, commencing from the epistemic or cognitive dimensions of professions, may be more fruitful. One such possibility is presented by setting out from realist philosophy of science. The links between science and profession are explored by addressing, primarily, the relation between the concepts of mechanism and intervention. A new, ‘invariant’ definition is proposed. In conclusion, a few consequences for future empirical studies of the professions are outlined.

Department/s

Publishing year

2011

Language

English

Pages

4-20

Publication/Series

Professions and Professionalism

Volume

1

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus

Topic

  • Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)

Keywords

  • profession
  • definition of profession
  • professional attributes
  • philosophy of science
  • mechanism
  • intervention

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1893-1049