Editorial Comment:

Abstract: Throughout history, scholars, educators and learned enthusiasts have always considered a “profession” to be made up of a group of people who provide a unique service to personkind. In essence, this unique service was “to be marked by specialized skills obtained in a body of knowledge of an academic discipline during a period of extended preparation and conducted according to the standards for moral behaviour and ethical practices.”

A profession is distinct to that of a craft, trade or skill. The latter, in general, are carried on by technical and/or service people. Oftentimes, these “experts” accomplish their tasks and functions by knowing certain principles and abilities. Objectively, there is no dire need for these “craft-trade” people to understand fully, or to a high degree, the knowledge underlying principles, practices and procedures. In general, there are no objective requirements that “craft-trade” techniques be subjected to theoretical and abstractual analysis.