Erik Christensen
About
Before taking up the position of Head of Department, Christensen was Associate Professor of Religious Education at the Department of Teacher Education, NTNU. From 2014 to 2023, Christensen was Professor of Philosophy at the Faculty of Education and Arts and Culture and Faculty of Social Sciences, Nord University. Previously, he was Associate Professor of Practical Philosophy and Ethics at the Department of Philosophy, UiT The Arctic University of Norway (2010-2014). Christensen has also held a part-time professorship at the University of Stavanger and has been affiliated with the Norwegian Police University College.
Christensen holds a PhD in Medical Ethics from NTNU, with the dissertation The Individual and the Community in Bioethics. His research interests include education, particularly ethics and philosophy in schools, professional ethics, social work ethics, applied ethics, and, more broadly, ethical theory, democratic theory, and political theory. Christensen has supervised students from a variety of professional backgrounds, (including teacher education, social work, policing, prison officer), and has taught at all levels (bachelor, master, PhD).
Christensen serves as the ethicist member of the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK Central). He previously served as an ethicist member of the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Board (2016-2020). He is also co-editor of the Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics.
Publications
2026
-
Alvarez, Allen Andrew Afuang;
Ursin, Lars Øystein;
Thorseth, May Britt;
Christensen, Erik.
(2026)
The role of empirical evidence in applied ethics.
Etikk i praksis
Editorial
2025
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2025)
Bioetiske komiteer og etiske eksperter: et normativt fundament.
Norsk filosofisk tidsskrift
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik;
Sjåfjell, Linda.
(2025)
Epistemisk urettferdighet og kvinners erfaringer med vold i nære
relasjoner.
Academic chapter
2022
-
Åberg, Ingvill Bjørnstad;
Christensen, Erik;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Othering in the age of “diversity”. Cultural, ethnic and racial categorisations in education policy and social studies.
Nord universitet
Doctoral thesis
2020
-
Ursin, Lars Øystein;
Ytterhus, Borgunn;
Christensen, Erik;
Skolbekken, John-Arne.
(2020)
«If you give them your little finger, they’ll tear off your entire arm»: losing trust in biobank research.
Medicine, Health care and Philosophy
Academic article
-
Hoel, Linda Antoniett;
Christensen, Erik.
(2020)
In-field training in the police: Learning in an ethical grey area?.
Journal of Workplace Learning
Academic article
2016
-
Hoel, Linda Antoniett;
Christensen, Erik.
(2016)
Hvorfor velger politistudentene å bli politi?: Om verdier, idealer og et trygt samfunn.
Nordisk politiforskning
Academic article
2013
-
Christensen, Erik;
Anfinsen, Roar.
(2013)
Menneske, natur og samfunn.
Universitetsforlaget
Textbook
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2013)
Utilitarisme.
Popular science chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2013)
Aristoteles og dydsetikken.
Popular science chapter
2012
-
Solberg, Mariann;
Anfinsen, Roar;
Christensen, Erik;
Fjørtoft, Kjersti;
nafstad, Petter.
(2012)
Menneske og samfunn. En lærebok i filosofi.
Universitetsforlaget
Textbook
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2012)
Revisiting multiculturalism and its critics.
The Monist
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2012)
The Re-emergence of the Liberal-Communitarian Debate in Bioethics: Exercising Self-Determination and Participation in Biomedical Research.
Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
Academic article
2011
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2011)
Aristoteles og dygdsetikken.
Academic chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2011)
Den moderne utilitarisme.
Academic chapter
-
Anfinsen, Roar;
Christensen, Erik;
Fjørtoft, Kjersti;
Johannessen, Finn r;
nafstad, Petter;
Solberg, Mariann.
(2011)
Menneske, natur og samfunn. En innføring i filosofi. Prøveutgave.
Universitetsforlaget
Textbook
2010
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2010)
Våre moralske overbevisninger, prinsipper og gjerninger.
Norsk filosofisk tidsskrift
Academic article
2009
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2009)
Plotins Intellekt - fascinasjon og enigma.
Agora Journal for metafysisk spekulasjon
Book review
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2009)
Biobanks and Our Common Good.
Academic chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2009)
On knowledge as a condition for courage in Plato's Protagoras.
Logical Analysis and History of Philosophy
Academic article
2008
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2008)
Aristoteles og vårt politiske fellesskap.
Agora Journal for metafysisk spekulasjon
Book review
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2008)
Om dygdens enhet i Protagoras.
Agora Journal for metafysisk spekulasjon
Academic article
2007
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2007)
Var Sokrates hedonist? – Hedonismeargumentet i Protagoras.
Norsk filosofisk tidsskrift
Academic article
2003
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2003)
Prolegomena til forståelse av eksistens og predikasjon hos Platon.
Parabel : Tidsskrift for filosofi og vitenskapsteori
Academic article
Journal publications
-
Alvarez, Allen Andrew Afuang;
Ursin, Lars Øystein;
Thorseth, May Britt;
Christensen, Erik.
(2026)
The role of empirical evidence in applied ethics.
Etikk i praksis
Editorial
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2025)
Bioetiske komiteer og etiske eksperter: et normativt fundament.
Norsk filosofisk tidsskrift
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2009)
Plotins Intellekt - fascinasjon og enigma.
Agora Journal for metafysisk spekulasjon
Book review
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2008)
Aristoteles og vårt politiske fellesskap.
Agora Journal for metafysisk spekulasjon
Book review
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2010)
Våre moralske overbevisninger, prinsipper og gjerninger.
Norsk filosofisk tidsskrift
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2012)
Revisiting multiculturalism and its critics.
The Monist
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2012)
The Re-emergence of the Liberal-Communitarian Debate in Bioethics: Exercising Self-Determination and Participation in Biomedical Research.
Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
Academic article
-
Ursin, Lars Øystein;
Ytterhus, Borgunn;
Christensen, Erik;
Skolbekken, John-Arne.
(2020)
«If you give them your little finger, they’ll tear off your entire arm»: losing trust in biobank research.
Medicine, Health care and Philosophy
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2008)
Om dygdens enhet i Protagoras.
Agora Journal for metafysisk spekulasjon
Academic article
-
Hoel, Linda Antoniett;
Christensen, Erik.
(2020)
In-field training in the police: Learning in an ethical grey area?.
Journal of Workplace Learning
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2009)
On knowledge as a condition for courage in Plato's Protagoras.
Logical Analysis and History of Philosophy
Academic article
-
Hoel, Linda Antoniett;
Christensen, Erik.
(2016)
Hvorfor velger politistudentene å bli politi?: Om verdier, idealer og et trygt samfunn.
Nordisk politiforskning
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2003)
Prolegomena til forståelse av eksistens og predikasjon hos Platon.
Parabel : Tidsskrift for filosofi og vitenskapsteori
Academic article
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2007)
Var Sokrates hedonist? – Hedonismeargumentet i Protagoras.
Norsk filosofisk tidsskrift
Academic article
Books
-
Christensen, Erik;
Anfinsen, Roar.
(2013)
Menneske, natur og samfunn.
Universitetsforlaget
Textbook
-
Solberg, Mariann;
Anfinsen, Roar;
Christensen, Erik;
Fjørtoft, Kjersti;
nafstad, Petter.
(2012)
Menneske og samfunn. En lærebok i filosofi.
Universitetsforlaget
Textbook
-
Anfinsen, Roar;
Christensen, Erik;
Fjørtoft, Kjersti;
Johannessen, Finn r;
nafstad, Petter;
Solberg, Mariann.
(2011)
Menneske, natur og samfunn. En innføring i filosofi. Prøveutgave.
Universitetsforlaget
Textbook
Part of book/report
-
Christensen, Erik;
Sjåfjell, Linda.
(2025)
Epistemisk urettferdighet og kvinners erfaringer med vold i nære
relasjoner.
Academic chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2009)
Biobanks and Our Common Good.
Academic chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2011)
Aristoteles og dygdsetikken.
Academic chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2011)
Den moderne utilitarisme.
Academic chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2013)
Utilitarisme.
Popular science chapter
-
Christensen, Erik.
(2013)
Aristoteles og dydsetikken.
Popular science chapter
Student thesis or dissertation
-
Åberg, Ingvill Bjørnstad;
Christensen, Erik;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Othering in the age of “diversity”. Cultural, ethnic and racial categorisations in education policy and social studies.
Nord universitet
Doctoral thesis
Teaching
Courses
- MGLU4507 - Philosophy as a Discipline and Practice (5-10)
- MGLU4208 - Philosophy as a Discipline and Practice
- MGLU5109 - Religion and worldviews in society and history as topics for teaching and research (1-7)
- MGLU5243 - Critical thinking on controversial issues in CRPE
- SKOLE6024 - Conspiracy Theories in School and Online
- MGLU5509 - Religion and worldviews in society and history as topics for teaching and research (5-10)
- MGLU4107 - Philosophy as a Discipline and Practice (1-7)
Outreach
2014
-
LectureChristensen, Erik. (2014) Bioethics committees and normative representative pluralism. PhD/postdoc forum 2: Normative Dimensions of New Technologies
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Conference lecture
2012
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2012) The Socratic Conception of the Good Life in the Symposium. Plato's Symposium
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2012) Liberalism, Religion, and Equal Opportunity. Secularism, Tolerance, and Religious Minorities
2011
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2011) Introduction to ethics in science. BIO-8603 PhD course at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2011) Should we welcome religious arguments as part of public debate in liberal societies?. Pluralism, Democracy and Justice
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Conference lecture
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Conference lecture
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2011) Liberalism, the value of culture, and equal opportunity in a liberal society. Themes in contemporary ethics and political philosophy II
-
Conference lecture
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2011) Ethics and society. BIO-8603 PhD course at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2011) Ethical theory, animal rights, and environmental ethics. BIO-8603 PhD course at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2011) Liberalism and Religion. Scandinavian Conference in Normative Political Philosophy
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2011) Comments on the Athenian Stranger. Symposium Poetry and Philosophy in the Light of Plato's Laws
2010
-
Conference lecture
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2010) Should we welcome religious arguments as part of public debate in liberal societies?. Complexity and Legitimacy: Religion, Secularity, and Values in the Polis
2007
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LectureChristensen, Erik. (2007) Hva er til det beste for andre – når helse- og sosialarbeideren tviler?. Høgskolen i Sør-Trøndelag
2006
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Lecture
2004
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Conference lectureChristensen, Erik. (2004) Consentenced to contribute to the common good?. Norges forskningsråd - FUGE/ELSA
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Conference lecture