"Because trust is one of the most absolutely central concepts in human relationships!"
Einar Øverenget is very clear when we ask him why he wrote a book titled 'Tillit - uunngåelig, nødvendig, farlig' ('Trust – inevitable, essential, dangerous').
Øverenget has worked extensively with ethics over the years, and the concept of trust frequently arises. That got the INN professor thinking about writing an entire book on this particular phenomenon.
“We think we know what trust means, and we act accordingly, but there is always reason to explore it a little more deeply because it has such great significance,” he explains.
The ultimate philosopher
And so it came to be. The book is now out. The launch took place at the House of Literature in Oslo on Wednesday.
The one steering the conversation that evening, Danby Choi, also wrote the foreword to the new book.
“Einar Øverenget is a great thinker and the ultimate philosopher. It was an honour to be asked to write the foreword. This is a book that has given me many thought-provoking moments,” said Choi just before he kicked off the conversation on stage.
And the book has indeed given him some new perspectives on the concept of trust.
“Can we have too much trust? Yes, I believe so – and Einar Øverenget has taught me that. For instance, during the pandemic, I wonder whether we were too trusting of the authorities. And another thing – why is it always those in power who tell us we must be so trusting? These are the kinds of questions Einar raises, and that’s important,” Danby Choi told inn.no.
According to the publisher, Einar Øverenget goes straight to the core of what binds us together – and what can tear us apart. Without trust, our society collapses.
“What does your book add to the concept of trust, Einar?”
“I think it offers what philosophical analysis often does – an attempt to understand something we already believe we know. It’s about looking more closely at what lies within a concept, even when we assume we already grasp it.”
Power and trust
There was a good atmosphere in the Wergeland Hall at the House of Literature during the book talk, even though the themes Choi and Øverenget discussed at times cast a rather sombre light on the world we live in.
According to the publisher, Einar Øverenget points out that everything from economics and politics to interpersonal relationships depends on trust. Against the backdrop of the artificial intelligence revolution, he also raises the question of whether we’re even aware that trust may be slipping away.
Because there are serious consequences to tampering too much with trust in a society.
“If you were to highlight a few key points from your book that we should take with us and learn from – what would they be?”
“We need to understand that we are constantly givers of trust – meaning we hand over power and control. Some of us, quite a few in fact, are recipients of trust. Others are giving up power and control to us. And the power we gain when someone places their trust in us – we must be very conscious not to misuse it. That can easily happen, because power tends to go to people’s heads,” Øverenget explains.
That Einar Øverenget is a compelling communicator is well known to anyone who has heard him share his knowledge.
Book talk host, editor and public commentator Danby Choi is no exception – and he is impressed by both the book and Øverenget’s ability to engage an audience.
“I work with professionals across many disciplines, and I have to say, many academics struggle to communicate effectively. But there are exceptions. Einar is one of them. He manages to combine academic weight with the ability to make it understandable.”
“You’ve read the book – what did you think?”
“It’s a real page-turner! A book you simply can’t put down. That’s quite an achievement when we’re talking about philosophy!”
