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The Complicated Relationship of Disability and Well-Being
Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
|July 25, 2017
Summary
Disability is not inherently bad, challenging common assumptions. This research explores a more complex view of disability and well-being, suggesting most disabilities are neutral.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Philosophy of Medicine
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Common societal view: disability is inherently negative for well-being.
- Need for a more nuanced understanding of disability's impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- Critique the assumption that disability is always bad.
- Defend a nuanced perspective on disability and well-being.
- Explore the implications for policy and social interactions.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of the concept of disability and well-being.
- Examination of four interpretations of the negative view of disability.
- Argumentation for disability as a neutral trait in certain contexts.
Main Results:
- The view that disability is always bad is shown to be false.
- Most disabilities can be considered neutral in one significant sense.
- Generalizations about disability and well-being are complex and context-dependent.
Conclusions:
- Challenging the negative perception of disability is crucial.
- Understanding disability as potentially neutral has implications for selective abortion, social interactions, and health policy (e.g., QALYs).
- A more sophisticated approach is needed for disability ethics and policy.
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