Can a MacIntyrian Care about Severely Disabled Strangers?

Area of Science:

• Moral Philosophy
• Ethics
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Debate exists on the moral status of severely disabled individuals.
• Gregory Poore critiques Alasdair MacIntyre's virtue theory regarding responsibilities to disabled strangers.
• MacIntyre's theory emphasizes community membership, raising questions about inclusion of disabled individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Alasdair MacIntyre's virtue theory for insights into the moral status of severely disabled people.
• To address Gregory Poore's critique concerning MacIntyre's capacity to account for responsibilities to severely disabled strangers.
• To present an interpretation of MacIntyre's philosophy that includes responsibilities towards severely disabled strangers.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of Alasdair MacIntyre's virtue ethics.
• Interpretation of MacIntyre's concepts of community and membership.
• Critical engagement with Gregory Poore's arguments.

Main Results:

• MacIntyre's virtue theory can indeed account for responsibilities to severely disabled strangers.
• The interpretation presented demonstrates how severely disabled individuals can be included within MacIntyre's framework of community.
• Poore's conclusion that MacIntyre excludes severely disabled people from communities is challenged.

Conclusions:

• Alasdair MacIntyre's virtue ethics offers valuable resources for understanding the moral status and inclusion of severely disabled people.
• The study refutes the claim that MacIntyre's theory is inadequate for addressing responsibilities to disabled strangers.
• Severely disabled individuals are shown to be integral to MacIntyre's conception of community.