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one on television. Here is who I am.
Raks Sharki community, professionalism includes things like avoiding sleaziness, charging an
appropriate rate, and treating other dancers with respect. Like many Raks Sharki teachers, I have
written about specific behaviors that define professionalism in Raks Sharki, in a separate article. In this
essay, however, I would like to back up and ask the question:
Why should Raks Sharki dancers behave with professionalism?
One answer is that dancers who behave professionally tend to get more gigs of a higher quality. But
aside from such practical considerations, I think ethics is involved. In this essay, I will explore what
moral reasons there may be supporting professional behavior within the framework of various traditional
ethical theories.
approximated by Spock: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." (Star Trek II). The goal is the
greatest good for the greatest number. In the case before us: if dancers behave professionally in general, we generate a good
reputation for Raks Sharki dancers. People looking for a family-friendly entertainer to perform at a wedding, cultural event, or
other high quality gig will be more likely to hire a Raks Sharki dancer. Additionally, people who do hire dancers will come to
expect a level of professionalism. This means that people will treat dancers as professionals, with benefits such as: willingness
to pay the appropriate rate, reasonable expectations about time commitments and cancellations, and less sleaziness. If we
behave professionally, the greatest good is achieved within the community of Raks Sharki dancers.
The kind of "if-then" argument just employed is a kind of consequentialist ethics, of which Utilitarianism is the best-known
theory. But there are other ethical theories outside consequentialism.
regardless of the consequences. (Of course, whether a moral obligation exists depends in some way on the consequences of
the action in question. - this is an important note clearly explained by John Rawls). One moral obligation which occurs in many
deontological systems is the obligation not to lie. "Thou shalt not bear false witness." I would argue that a Raks Sharki dancer
who calls herself a professional Raks Sharki dancer has an obligation to behave professionally: otherwise she is lying.
"Professional" does not simply mean "performs for money", but necessarily implies professionalism. Do non-professional
dancers have a moral obligation to carry themselves with professionalism? I do not think so, although I'm open to
considerations I've missed. In any case, there are moral obligations attached to many of the actual individual behaviors of
which professionalism is composed.
Virtue ethics is another form of ethics. An ethical person is someone who has virtues. An action is ethical if it is the kind of
action a virtuous person does. For this kind of ethics, which was espoused by Aristotle, you need to define virtues, such as
honesty, compassion, etc. The method for defining virtues varies, but without delving too deeply into the matter, it seems
plausible that professionalism is a virtue.
Let me mention one final form of ethics: Intuitionism. Moral truths are self-evident to any mature mind. To behave morally,
you don't need to study stodgy German philosophers, you just need to think carefully and follow your conscience. (If you're
lucky, you've got a mature mind with a nicely functioning conscience). So let me put the question to all mature minds out
there: should Raks Sharki dancers conduct themselves with professionalism? aleta@aletadances.com
Wikipedia, as usual, is clear, concise, and reasonably thorough. Here is the broad article on ethics.
The online Routledge encyclopedia of philosophy has a far more technical discussion of ethics, beginning at the very top here
and see also the Related Articles.
If you're interested, here's what I think about professionalism regarding particular behaviors in the Raks Sharki community.
Please contact me with any comments, or if you feel I am a militant Kant groupie who has butchered your own favorite ethical
system.
