Disability and Mere-Difference: An Exploration of the Relationship Between Disability and Well-Being
Date of Completion
2018
Thesis Type
College of Arts and Science Honors
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Tyler Doggett
Keywords
disability, mere-difference, bad-difference, well-being, ethics
Abstract
The objective of this thesis is to evaluate and defend the mere-difference view of disability. In order to do this, I will first review Elizabeth Barnes’s argument for a moderate social-constructivist understanding of disability. I will then review her presentation of the mere-difference view, and formally introduce a common and perhaps powerful objection to it—that it has unacceptable implications. Next, I will review some of Barnes’s responses to one of this objection’s common forms. I will then discuss objections raised against Barnes’s responses—specifically, those raised by Guy Kahane and Julian Savulescu, along with Vuko Andrić and Joachim Wündisch—before offering my own responses to these objections. Finally, I will broadly review additional objections that may be raised against the mere-difference view and offer additional responses. It is my aim to defend the position that disability is something which, in terms of well-being, is neither necessarily good, nor necessarily bad. Rather, that disability is a mere-difference; that it is, itself, a kind of difference which is neutral with regard to its effect on well-being.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Kel M., "Disability and Mere-Difference: An Exploration of the Relationship Between Disability and Well-Being" (2018). UVM College of Arts and Sciences College Honors Theses. 51.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/castheses/51