Literature traditionally holds a special place in society. This fact can be ascribed especially to literature's unique capability to urge its audience and readers to allow a voice other than their own to resound within. And yet, literature's role raises questions regarding one's responsibility and engagement - questions that nearly every generation asks itself time and again with an ever changing urgency. Eight literary scholars from the research group 'Literature - Ethics - Law' (Ghent University) focus on this complex dialogue between literature and ethics. In the process, they arrive at answers that tease out crucial historical developments (from Plato to HIV/AIDS