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Dissertation on Military Ethics

National Defence University
Publication date 3.10.2016 11.27
Press release

The doctoral dissertation of Senior Chaplain, Master of Theology Janne Aalto will be held at the National Defence University on Friday 28 October 2016. The doctoral thesis falls within the field of military pedagogy and the dissertation will take place in the auditorium of the Santahamina Building (Santahaminantie 2) at 1200 hrs.

The custos is Juha Mäkinen, Professor of Military Pedagogy from the National Defence University. The opponent is Professor Jaana Hallamaa from the University of Helsinki.

The thesis is entitled "Hyvä sotilas - oikea toiminta. Miksi asevoimissa opetetaan sotilasetiikkaa?" (Good soldier - correct actions. Why is military ethics taught in the armed forces?). The thesis presents the aims of military ethics teaching in the military academies and armed forces of five different countries and compares them with the aims of the instruction in ethics provided by the Finnish Defence Forces. The study is done using content analysis based on theory and data with text produced by armed forces as source material. The study shows that different armed forces have different aims with regard to teaching ethics depending on their position in society, their organisation and their main task.

Based on the material, a picture can be formed of four different aims towards which ethics teaching in these armed forces strives, either consciously or unconsciously.

The doctoral thesis can be downloaded online from the National Defence University's Doria Publication Archive (www.doria.fi) as of 4 October 2016.

Senior Chaplain Janne Aalto graduated as Master of Theology from the University of Helsinki in 1996. He has served as Military Chaplain in the Helsinki Air Defence Regiment, National Defence University and in his current task at in the Training Division of Defence Command Finland. In 2010, he served in the ISAF Operation in Afghanistan. Aalto began his doctoral studies in military science in 2007.

Welcome to the public examination

The dissertation is open to the general public. Because the event will take place in a military area, we kindly ask that you register no later than 17 October 2016 at 1600 hrs using the following link www.lyyti.in/Aallon_vaitostilaisuus

You must show an official photo ID (issued by the Finnish Police) or a passport at the Santahamina garrison gate.

For more information:

Senior Chaplain Janne Aalto, tel. 0299 510 183 or [email protected]

General arrangements and information, Public Information Officer Henna Ristikangas, tel. 0299 530 121 or [email protected]

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