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
political
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
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
Relational Caring and Presence Theory
The newly published book Relational Caring and Presence Theory in Health Care and Social Work: A Care-Ethical Perspective addresses a deep and globally felt dissatisfaction, among citizens in general but also among professionals. Continue reading Relational Caring and Presence Theory
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
Problem or “mystery” in Care and Social Work?
Social professionals’ view of the good life and vulnerability determines what is seen as a problem and how it is tackled. The French philosopher Gabriel Marcel proposes the notion of “mystery” as an alternative to thinking in terms of problems.
Our editors Silke Jacobi and Ivonne Hoen attended a symposium (1) questioning the problem- and solution-oriented approach in social work getting in the way of the social worker’s “knowing”. They regard this a topical issue, in the symposium related to the phenomenological “mystery” notion of Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973).
Continue reading Problem or “mystery” in Care and Social Work?