Troubling polarization and, in the worst case, escalating political and ideological contradictions are of all times, but which dynamics are at stake in the current late modern era with its diversity of manifestations of power? Taking this matter into account, our critical care-ethical perspective on a seemingly polarized world addresses in this context questions concerning the human emotional dimension, (societal) relationships, institutional aspects and implicit as well as explicit power plays. Member of our board of editors, Silke Jacobi wrote the following article about polarization. Continue reading Political polarization in (late) modern times
late modernity
Friendship as a Model of Professional Care
In 2004, Frans Vosman († 2020) published the Dutch-language version of the article Friendship as a Model of Professional Care. An obvious question arises: why would the editorial board now publish an English version of this old and therefore dated article on its international website? In this introduction, we outline why we believe the article remains relevant to contemporary care ethics. Continue reading Friendship as a Model of Professional Care
Disguised Suffering
Jeannet van de Kamp is one of the editors of our international website ethicsofcare.org She is the last one of the PhD candidates of care ethicist Frans Vosman († 2020).
On Monday, January 19, 2026, at 13.45 CET (sharp), Jeannet van de Kamp will defend her dissertation: Disguised suffering. A care ethical inquiry into the late modern ideal of a ‘succesful life’. She dedicates her book, a monograph of 540 pages, to Frans Vosman. Continue reading Disguised Suffering
Through the Eye of the Needle. Next steps for care ethics
Between 2014 and 2020, care ethicist Frans Vosman († 2020) wrote several articles in which he explained the need for next steps within care ethics. Some of these were mentioned in our introduction to his article Taking Refuge in the Arts (Vosman, 2016). We now add another article.
Continue reading Through the Eye of the Needle. Next steps for care ethics
A.I. doesn’t care – Reading Vanessa Nurock ‘Care in an Era of New Technologies and Artificial Intelligence’.
In January 2025 French philosopher Vanessa Nurock published her book Care in an Era of New Technologies and Artificial Intelligence. Relationships in a Connected World with Peeters Publishers, Louvain (Belgium). Vanessa Nurock explores the question whether the rise of artificial intelligence might not only change our practical approach to care, but also the very fabric of our moral and emotional relationships.
Continue reading A.I. doesn’t care – Reading Vanessa Nurock ‘Care in an Era of New Technologies and Artificial Intelligence’.
From cancer one may sometimes die. Yet no one speaks about that anymore
Medical-technical innovations are great, but they often suppress a conversation about pain and suffering says Tessa Roberts-Smorenburg, care ethicist at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital Amsterdam (NL) Continue reading From cancer one may sometimes die. Yet no one speaks about that anymore