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In Conversation With Hans Ulrich's Wie Geschöpfe Leben

Faculty of Theology,Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, js.reinders{at}th.vu.nl

This paper presents Hans Ulrich's account of Christian ethics as an ethics of `vocation'. It is interested in how Ulrich's account of vocational ethics is developed as a critique of professional ethics. Professional ethics is seen as reflecting the structures of ethical deliberation of the social order that produces it, thereby failing to move beyond the realm of `works'. In contrast, the distinguishing characteristic of Ulrich's vocational ethics is shown to be that it is a response to the Word `from outside'. Consequently, a Christian account of professional ethics needs to show how it can retain a `theological difference' that enables it to respond to the Word that `breaks in' to start something new. The paper discusses the transformation of professionalism in a neo-liberal service economy in order to find out how this `breaking in' actually proceeds. Its test case is providing services to people with intellectual disabilities.

Key Words: care and choice • ethics of vocation • liberal morality • managerialism • neo-liberal service economy • professional ethics

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