Seeking the good life - higher education careers services and moral philosophy

Abstract

One perspective on careers work is that it is a kind of moral philosophy. We seek to help our clients and students discover and live a good life, a question central to philosophy. However, the notion of good seems under-examined in our profession. This article reviews the three main theories of good in moral philosophy and examines careers practice from their perspective. A moral foundation that focuses on social justice is proposed as a necessary consequence of a claim of rationality and agency on the part of careers services.