The debate over the most practiced profession in the world has always been a fascinating one, but it recently gained new fuel after the World Economic Forum’s 2025 report on the future of jobs listed the top ten fastest-growing skills by 2030. Skills like artificial intelligence and big data, network and cybersecurity, technical literacy, creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, lifelong learning, leadership, talent management, analytical reasoning, and environmental stewardship all made the list. Yet, the question arose: beyond these abstract skills, which profession can truly claim to be the most practiced by humanity itself?
Medicine was the first to speak, with the confidence of a patriarch who knows his place at the head of the table. “Look back,” medicine declared, “and you’ll find me standing as the cornerstone of survival. The world could not have endured without my presence. Longevity, life expectancy, and the quality of healthcare—these remain the ultimate measures of human progress. I am the most influential, the most impactful, the most practiced. God Himself is surely a red physician, for He designed the body with the finest anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, and then allowed mankind to mimic His work through computer science and artificial intelligence. From nursing and pharmacy to laboratory sciences, I have given birth to countless children who serve me. And truth be told, every person practices medicine daily—diagnosing discomfort, seeking remedies, and instinctively reaching for what they believe can heal them. That, my friends, is survival at its purest form.”
Agriculture leaned forward with a chuckle, shaking its head. “You always overrate yourself, medicine. People may go months or years without visiting you, but not a single day passes without my presence. Food is eaten daily—sometimes hourly—and without it, you cannot even function. God is not primarily a physician; He is a farmer. Food itself is the first medicine, the foundation of physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry that you so proudly boast about. Those who prioritize me rarely fall sick. I am the silent guardian of health and life, and every human being answers my call three times a day, if not more. If you want inevitability, look no further than me.”
Architecture raised an eyebrow and interjected smoothly. “You both sound proud, but your claims cannot stand without me. Agriculture needs farms, barns, and irrigation systems designed and built. Medicine needs hospitals, laboratories, and pharmacies crafted with precision. I am the imagination of shelter, the blueprint of civilization itself. From caves to skyscrapers, I am the profession that both of you depend upon without realizing it. Without me, there is neither a safe bed to recover in nor a field properly cultivated. You live inside my creativity and take me for granted.”
Accountancy, who had been listening with a quiet smirk, finally adjusted its glasses and spoke with precision. “Your boasting amuses me. What becomes of medicine, agriculture, or architecture without me? I am the language of value, the keeper of records, the mirror of trust. You count on me—literally. Every transaction, every calculation, every budget, whether done mentally or with technology, is my work. I am the invisible thread that ties all professions together. Without my order, chaos reigns. I am the medicine of scarcity, the architecture of wealth, and the agriculture of numbers. Ignore me, and your empires collapse.”
Then communication, dressed in the vibrancy of words and symbols, stepped in with a playful smile. “Truly? And what of me? Can you survive a single day without speaking, writing, or signaling to others? I am the breath of society. Every negotiation, every love letter, every story told to a child at night—those are mine. Even medicine, agriculture, architecture, and accountancy are nothing but forms of communication, whether to the body, the soil, the city, or the ledger. I am the most practiced, for without me, silence would starve the soul. As Habermas argued, communication is the very fabric of social existence. I am not just survival; I am meaning itself.”
Law, with stern dignity, cleared its throat. “Enough of this noise. I am the silent but ever-present authority. Every human action—whether at home, on the road, or in the marketplace—falls under my shadow. Without me, chaos and anarchy TV would reign supreme. You all exist because of order, and order exists because of me. People may pretend to ignore me, but even in that act, they acknowledge my power. I am the most practiced profession because life itself is bound by my principles. Ignore law for a minute, and society crumbles. As Aristotle said, ‘The rule of law is better than the rule of any individual.’ Remember that before you boast.”
Computer science suddenly burst into laughter. “You all sound ancient. Look around—can anyone, for even a second, live without me? At home, in business, in schools, on farms, and in hospitals—I am everywhere. I am the new bloodstream of civilization. Even medicine saves lives now through me, agriculture thrives on my data, architecture builds smarter with my tools, and accountancy runs on my algorithms. I am survival, speed, memory, and vision combined. You all may have mattered once, but now I am the most practiced, the profession without which modern life collapses instantly.”
Theater art leaned back with a mischievous grin, almost singing its reply. “Oh, poor souls. Do you think humans can survive without joy, laughter, or storytelling? I am entertainment—the heartbeat of culture, the refuge of weary minds. People sing, dance, laugh, and perform every single day, sometimes without even realizing it. I heal like medicine, nourish like agriculture, and design happiness like architecture. I am the most popular, the one people pay most willingly for, and the one they turn to when all else fails. Without me, life would be unbearable.”
Finally, politics erupted into a booming laugh. “You are all brilliant, but you miss the obvious truth. Everyone, by nature, is a politician. Aristotle himself said, ‘Man is by nature a political animal.’ Every family decision, every office debate, every social media argument is politics in action. Doctors, farmers, architects, accountants, journalists, entertainers—all of you are also politicians at heart. Look at the world: political names dominate our conversations, our media, our streets. Donald Trump, Bola Ahmed Tinubu—these figures are household names, unlike most professionals in your fields. Even in the smallest village or family, disagreements are settled not by law, not by medicine, not by architecture, but by politics—by negotiation, compromise, and the will of the people. Admit it: politics is not just a profession; it is the rhythm of human existence. And for that reason, I am, and will always be, the most practiced profession on earth.”
And so, the debate rages on—an endless drama where every profession claims supremacy, yet each reveals how deeply interwoven it is with the others. Perhaps the real truth is that none stands alone, for, as Durkheim reminded us, society itself is a web of interdependence. Each profession, whether medicine, agriculture, law, or politics, is only meaningful in relation to the rest. And maybe that, after all, is the most practiced profession of humanity: the art of being connected.
Mohammed can be reached at bagudumohammed15197@gmail.com and 07034943575
