The purpose of this reply to Kvernbekk and Lewis's comments regarding the discussion on epistemological and ethical problems of listening to children's voices, is not to propose a coherent foundation free from any epistemological tensions. Rather, Tangen's intent is primarily to explore different perspectives in order to disclose some of their possible contributions to understanding complex phenomena such as children's lives in schools and societies characterized by a multiplicity of dangers and contradictory values. For this purpose, some epistemological perspectives and methodological approaches are more promising than others. The author's argument against empiricism is not that it will force all research to become nomothetical; it could as well be idiographical, as Kvernbekk says. Tangen's assertion is that empiricism implies a monological definition of the subject, not a dialogical one. In addition, empiricism seems to face an unsolvable contradiction between epistemological subjectivism and alleged objectivism.