Professional Ethics in Sociology: The Origins of the Concept and the Reality in Contemporary China

The operation of modern society needs a proper spiritual foundation,and the professions also need the support of professional ethics.But at present,professional ethics is neglected relatively in sociology.Based on classical sociological theories,the connotation of professional ethics should be understood from the dual dimension of both meaning and norm.The professional ethics in contemporary China are faced with three severe challenges: the ethics of particularism,the values of egoism and the lack of the sense of significance of professional work.These challenges make it difficult for professionals to abide by their professional ethics in professional life,and ultimately,resulting in professionals’ ethical dilemmas.On the one hand,these dilemmas show that professional work lacks the support of ultimate meanings,mainly resulting from the reality that after the Reform,the collectivist values have declined,but there are no alternative mainstream social values to fill the vacancy; on the other hand,it also reflects that professional ethics cannot constraint practicing behaviors effectively,and deviation and anomy become normal.The emergence and persistence of these dilemmas have its unique social and cultural environment,organizational context and professional identity and role.Hence,the precondition to understand these social bases is to rethink the concept of professional ethics and realize its embeddedness,and pay attention to the interaction and blend of local social culture and Western professional institution.