Ambiguity and Ethics

The work area is involved in the 1808 Research Training Group "Ambiguity - Production and Reception" funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Ambiguity, understood as double meaning or multiple meaning, is a characteristic feature of language and communication. It can be found in spontaneous everyday discourses as well as in complex texts. In order to understand why communication succeeds despite or even because of ambiguity, but also why it can fail and which effects are triggered by ambiguity, the isolated approach of individual subjects must be overcome. It is the aim of the Research Training Group to show that new knowledge regarding the production and reception, the triggering and dissolution of ambiguity can be gained through cooperation between language-related subjects. It should also be considered in this context how ambiguity could be associated with ethical-moral evaluations and what role ambiguity plays in the (linguistically written) formation of ethical judgements.

In particular, the work area is involved in the content and methodological conception of the planned graduate conference "Ambiguity and Ethics", of the ethical elements of the practical workshop "Ambiguity and Media" and the research and science ethics training in the field of "interdisciplinary qualification".