BAPP Task 5c: Applying the theories in Professional Ethics

The task 5c of the Module 2 of the BA (Hons) in Professional Practice at the Middlesex University consists of after consulting the reader on Professional Ethics especially the requirements for carrying out practitioner inquiry, answer the following questions writing about what you have learned about the ideas surrounding ethics in a professional context after reviewing reader 5.

For me reading and learning the Reader 5 on Professional Ethics was not only very interesting but also enormously inspiring, for example the fig. 1 of how ethics operate in society in the order of personal, profession, organisation and finally generating a whole society.

Ethics have been in our society since the Greek Civilisation, where philosophers such as Plato or Aristotle developed their ethical theories, based of moral philosophy:

“Concerned about the right or the good way to carry out actions”

Middlesex (2017)

Following on from Greeks, many philosophers such as Hobbes, who viewed ethics as a practical solution to social harmony and good through the social contract, Immanuel Kant, that he believed that moral rules are absolute and based this on reason rather than on religion or JS Mill that developed a theory of moral obligation that proposed to choose that which will tend to produce the greatest good for the greatest number

In the arts, ethics are also essential in order to develop your work in a healthy and moral environment. Through the years there are some relevant ethical points that you need to respect as an artist in all forms such as:

- Treat colleagues with respect

- Don´t be selfish

- Don´t tread on other artist´s spaces

- Don´t steal other people´s ideas

- Be professional

- Thanks those who support you

These are only a few examples of them, but of course there are many depending on which form you are. Below you will find an image that I found perfect to represent the biggest problem of an artist in my opinion, their ego, and how they believe that all the world has to bow their creations. However, as an artist need to represent the society of their time, in fact an artist need to serve the society itself for the understanding of future generations.

Jacob’s Ladder by William Blake

How does what you have learnt fit into the theorical ethical framework?

As a dancer, and most importantly as a human being I always take ethics and moral first, in my opinion, where not humans anymore, just domesticated animals. After this reader I complemented my knowledge especially through the theories by Kant and Hobbes, that relate quite a lot for my professional practice that I will apply from now on.

How does what you you have discovered fit in with the ethics of professional inquiry?

Within my professional inquiry, there are some ethical points that are essential for the development of it, such as thanking those who support me (Through interviews, advices…) or  don´t steal other people´s ideas (That especially is applied for my resources and how I am applying them when writing my work always referencing to them)

Gonzalo