New book puts ethical conflicts under discussion

“We want the book to inspire readers to ethical reflection and conversation, preferably in the public space. That is why anyone who is interested can download the book for free”, says Terje Emil Fredwall.

He is an associate professor at the University of Agder (UiA) and has edited the book Verdier i konflikt. Etikk i et mangfoldig samfunn (Values in conflict. Ethics in a pluralistic society) which was launched in May, together with UiA professor Odin Lysaker.

The book consists of 12 articles, written by 12 researchers from various fields and traditions like social science, social work, mental health care, the diaconate, theology, religion, philosophy, and ethics.

Associate Professor Terje Emil Fredwall hopes the book on value conflicts will be read by many.

Eight of the articles are written by researchers at UiA.

Ethical plurality

“Plurality reigns within ethics in modern Norway. People believe and think in many different ways, and we take different choices on ethical values. In a community encompassing many different values, we must respond to other perspectives in a respectful and interested manner”, says Lysaker.

The editors point to globalisation and technological development as typical characteristics of society today. Personal values can be in conflict with societal values, and the values and lifestyles of minorities can collide with those of the majority community.

“In the book, we go into areas where the values of individuals, groups or institutions oppose each other. In the workplace, values in different professions and trades can challenge one another on what constitutes the good life”, says Fredwall. 

Community-oriented ethics

The articles discuss topics such as hatred and forgiveness, the role of the church in public debate, the refugee crisis of 2013-15, and the use of vile language in the public space.

UiA Professor Paul Leer-Salvesen discusses in his article whether the time is right to allow people to be married to more than one partner at the same time. The renowned philosopher Martha Nussbaum is one of those who has argued in favour of polygamy.

Leer-Salvesen argues that the state should not interfere with who people choose to live with, but he still argues against polygamy, on the grounds of gender equality considerations.

Solveig Botnen Eide, also a researcher at UiA, discusses whether the best interests of the child can be in conflict with the best interests of the family, and whether the best interests of the state conflict with the best interests of the child and the family. This question was discussed in light of the recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights against the Norwegian child protection system.

Prison health service

Professor Odin Lysaker argues that survivors of the 22 July terror attack should have been given the opportunity to express their anger in the public space.

Fredwall contributes with an article about life in prison, co-written with UiA colleague Inger Beate Larsen. They discuss how nurses at nine high-security prisons in Norway experience the cooperation with prison administrators and officers and about the interaction between nurses and inmates.The nurses are employed by the municipality but work inside the prison. As they come to work in prison, they bring a professional ethic that requires them to alleviate suffering and promote hea

“The nurses work in an institution where safety is a top priority, where life is strictly regulated, and where the state expects inmates to experience the punishment as a form of suffering. Until now, little has been written about the role of nurses in Norwegian prisons. We have therefore wanted to explore such tensions”, Fredwall says.

22 July, hatred and forgiveness

Lysaker has written a study on 22 July, based on statements in various media outlets made by some of those who survived the terror on Utøya. Some of them say they have not been allowed to express their hatred of the terrorist after the attack.

Lysaker argues that feelings can play a relevant role in public debate, both because it is important to the person who has been seriously injured by others, but also because feelings of hatred may be a first step towards reconciliation with the past, restoring the victim’s self-respect and forgiveness.

“Emotions are morally and politically relevant because they are universally human, and emotions are also pertinent for moral assessments. A line must, however, be drawn where emotions lead to a violation of human dignity, or where hateful feelings switch to hate speech”, Lysaker says.

Active ethics community

UiA has in recent years formed a group concerned with philosophy and ethics. The book this year is the third anthology by the university’s ethics research group. The first focused on mental health and the second on social ethics.

Common to the ethics books of this research group, is that they cover moral issues in the world of work and in society, and the public space where people engage in discussions about society and where policies are implemented.