[Life manifestations and nursing. A discussion of K.E. Løgstrup's ethics with starting point of Kari Martensen's and Patricia Benner's dialogs].

This article discusses philosophical questions of ethics dealing with nursing as well as other human activities. The purpose is: 1) To communicate the content, status and function of the phenomenon "manifestation of life", as described by the Danish philosopher and theologian K.E. Løgstrup. 2) To discuss what Løgstrup has to teach us about ethics of care and from this point of view to discuss ethics in relation to the development of nursing. Inspired by the ongoing dialogue between the two nurses and professors Patricia Benner and Kari Martinsen about ethics in nursing the article deals in depth about with the central phenomenon "manifestation of life" as seen in relation to the positions of Benner and Martinsen. The relevance of this theme in relation to nursing is considered, and the article argues, that nurses have an obligation to matter-of-factness, and to develop nursing not only from practical experiences and reflections on concrete actions, but also by scientifically based activities. Both approaches are necessary. They are mutual conditions for development of good nursing practice.