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Time – a dimension of ethics

Ulf Görman

pp. 59-67

Abstract

Our ethically informed choice of action is situated in time. However, the question of time is seldom explicitly addressed in publications on ethics. This essay is a tentative comment as a contribution to fill that gap.NOW has a central position in our choice of action. It is our first step into the FUTURE. This cannot be only a timeless investigation. Our ethical reflection may also involve a vision of the future we want, a tool to assist our decisions. The discussion in ethical theory as well as in applied ethics is often of a general and abstract character. I suggest that we should see such abstractions as tools in an ethical toolbox, rather than timeless or objective justifications. Autonomy in reasons and actions demands self-authorized coherence over time, but also openness to slow changes.

Publication details

Published in:

Baldwin Jennifer (2016) Embracing the ivory tower and stained glass windows: a Festschrift in honor of archbishop Antje Jackelén. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 59-67

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-23944-6_5

Full citation:

Görman Ulf (2016) „Time – a dimension of ethics“, In: J. Baldwin (ed.), Embracing the ivory tower and stained glass windows, Dordrecht, Springer, 59–67.