PHIL 230 Test 1 Review

Disability paradox

Why do many people with serious and persistent disabilities report that they experience a good or excellent quality of life when to most external observers these people seem to live an undesirable daily existence?

We argue that a good quality of life, despite adverse conditions, reflects a reconstituted balance between body, mind and spirit. Similarly, a poor quality of life reflects the absence of such a balance.

Happy slave idea

The “happy slave” idea suggests that people with disabilities are content with their situation, even when facing unfair treatment. It’s harmful because it ignores real struggles and discourages efforts to improve accessibility and equality.

In short, the “happy slave” idea critiques how society sometimes romanticizes disability rather than confronting the structural inequalities that make life harder for people with disabilities.

Biographical disruption

A biographical disruption is when a person’s life story and sense of identity are suddenly interrupted by a major health change or disability. It forces them to adjust to a new way of living, coping, and understanding themselves.

Relationship between limitations due to aging and the concept of disability

The relationship between limitations due to aging and the concept of disability is that as people grow older, they often develop health conditions—like arthritis, stroke, or dementia—that cause impairments similar to disabilities. However, these limitations are often seen as a “natural” part of aging rather than as disabilities, which can lead to less access to services, support, and recognition. Ageism and negative attitudes toward aging make it harder for older adults to form a positive disabled identity or receive proper care. Recognizing aging-related limitations as disabilities helps promote human rights, accessibility, and inclusion for older people.

People-first language

People-first language means putting the person before their disability when speaking or writing. It emphasizes that a disability is just one part of who they are, not what defines them.

For example:

Say “a person with a disability” instead of “a disabled person.”

Say “she uses a wheelchair” instead of “she’s wheelchair-bound.”

This way of speaking shows respect, dignity, and individuality, focusing on the person’s abilities and humanity rather than their limitations.

Impact of industrialization and development of modern cities on the experiences of people with disabilities

Industrialization and the rise of modern cities made life harder for people with disabilities. Before industrialization, families and local communities worked together on farms or in small crafts, so everyone — including disabled people — could contribute in some way. But as work moved to factories and cities, jobs began to require physical strength, speed, and long hours, which excluded many disabled people.

At the same time, families who might have cared for disabled members were drawn into wage labor, leaving disabled people without support. This led to more isolation, unemployment, and the rise of institutions. In short, industrialization reduced opportunities for inclusion and increased the social and economic barriers faced by people with disabilities.

Percentage of adults in the US with a disability

Approximately 1 in 4 (28.7%) of adults in the US have a disability, according to the CDC.

The year the Americans with Disabilities Act became law

1990

Impairment

Impairment is the state of condition which can be distinguished from the cause of the state or condition. Impairment is sometimes defined as sub-typical abnormality (or deficit). "Sub-typical" is used because at least theoretically some abnormalities might give some one 'superpowers' so-to-speak.

“Impairment” means that part of your body or mind doesn’t work in the usual way. It’s the condition itself, not what caused it.

For example, if someone can’t see well, the impairment is poor vision — not the reason they can’t see.

It’s called “sub-typical” because it’s just different from what most people have, not always bad. In fact, some differences might even give people special abilities or strengths — kind of like a “superpower.”

Disability

"disabilty" refers to negative aspects arising from the interaction between a person with an impairment and their environment.

Impairment/Disability distinction

"impairment" typically refers to something intrinsic while "disability" refers to something relational

Mere difference view of disability and potential objecions

This is a view from philosopher Elizabeth Barnes.

It says that impairments (or what she calls disabilities) should be seen as just differences, not bad differences.

In other words, having an impairment is not inherently worse than being “typical”; it’s just a variation in human traits.

Potential objections:

Critics might argue that some impairments do cause real difficulties or limitations in life, so calling them “mere differences” ignores real challenges.

Others might say it doesn’t account for the social barriers that actually make impairments disabling.

Naturalist approach to defining impairment and potential objections

Impairments are defined as abnormalities or deficits in the body or mind.

Example: being blind or missing a limb.

Potential objections:

It focuses only on the body or mind and ignores social or environmental factors.

It may pathologize differences that are not actually harmful.

ex. Having very short or very tall height might be seen as a “deviation from the norm,” but it isn’t necessarily harmful.

Value-based approach to defining impairment and potential objections

Impairments are defined in terms of limitations on what people value or can do.

Example: losing the ability to walk limits what someone can participate in socially or economically.

Potential objections:

It is subjective — what counts as a limitation can vary across cultures or individuals.

It risks labeling people as impaired just because society doesn’t accommodate them.

Dual-component approach to defining impairment and potential objections

Combines naturalist and value-based ideas: impairment is a physical or mental condition plus the difficulties it causes in a social context.

Example: someone may be blind (intrinsic impairment), and the lack of accessible tools or buildings (social barriers) makes it a disability.

Potential objections:

It can be tricky to separate what is the impairment and what is the disability caused by the environment.

Critics may argue it’s hard to measure or apply consistently.

Role of “dysfunction” in defining impairment

The role of dysfunction in defining impairment is that it helps decide which differences in the body or mind count as impairments. Many views, like the naturalist and dual-component approaches, see impairments as kinds of dysfunctions—things that don’t work as they naturally or normally should. Dysfunction can be understood in two ways: biomedically, where a body part or system fails to perform its proper biological function, or philosophically, where a condition disrupts the natural abilities humans are supposed to have. By using dysfunction as a standard, we can distinguish harmless differences, like hair color, from real impairments that cause limitations or difficulties. Essentially, dysfunction shows why an impairment is a problem rather than just a variation.

Biomedical approach to defining proper function

Focuses on whether the body or system performs its normal biological role.

Philosophical approach to defining proper function

Considers what a person ought to be able to do in order to function well as a human being.

Selected effect/evolution-theoretical account of proper function and potential objections

Definition: Proper function is what a trait evolved to do.

Objections: Evolutionary purpose may not match current context; not all traits have clear evolutionary functions.

Causal role function-analytical account of proper function and potential objections

Definition: Something functions properly if it contributes to the role it plays in the larger system (like the heart pumping blood).

Objections: Can be too narrow or mechanistic; may not capture broader social or individual impacts.

Statistical norm account of proper function and potential objections

Definition: Proper function is defined relative to the statistical average of a population.

Objections: Rare traits may be labeled as impairments even if they are harmless; ignores context and personal experience.

Philosophical proper function account of proper function and potential objections

Definition: Combines ideas about what a body or mind part should do with ethical and social considerations.

Objections: Can be abstract, subjective, and debated.

What are models of disability?

Broad ways of understanding disability and its causes.

Medical model of disability and potential objections

Definition: Disability is a problem intrinsic to the individual; the goal is treatment or cure.

Objections: Ignores social and environmental barriers; focuses too much on “fixing” the person.

Social model of disability and potential objections

Definition: Disability arises from the interaction between impairment and social/environmental barriers. Society disables people.

Objections: Can underplay real physical suffering; may ignore individual differences.

Minority vs. human variation emphasis in disability within the social model

Minority emphasis: Views disabled people as a minority group facing oppression.

Human variation emphasis: Views disability as one form of human diversity, like Barnes’ mere difference view.

Biopsychosocial model of disability and potential objections

Definition: Combines medical, social, and psychological factors to understand disability.

Objections: Can be complex and hard to apply consistently; may blur lines between impairment and disability.

Affirmative model of disability and potential objections

Definition: Sees disability as a positive identity and form of human variation; emphasizes strengths rather than deficits.

Objections: Critics argue it may downplay real challenges or suffering caused by impairments.