Philosophy 2000 120 Biomedical Ethics - Disability and Disability Studies Lecture Notes

Topic: Disability and Disability Studies.
This is the second-to-last lecture for the course (Philosophy 2000 120 - Biomedical Ethics).
Acknowledgment of feeling unqualified to speak on the topic, highlighting reliance on disabled speakers in the past.
Provided additional resources (video) featuring experiences from individuals with disabilities.

Norms play a crucial role in our perception and categorizations of disability.
Definition of Norms:
- A standard for human action, behavior, characteristics, or functions.
The study of ethics encompasses norms:
- Establishment, justification, implementation, evaluation of norms.
- Aim: Living in a society where actions align with the good—what is beneficial for individuals and society.
Each ethical theory debates what constitutes the good or appropriate norms but shares the goal of normative guidance.

Cultural norms can establish what is considered normal or acceptable, often leading to discrimination.
Marginalization:
  - Definition: Literally means “in the margins.”
  - Marginalized individuals are regarded as non-essential parts of society—often unnoticed and secondary in concern.
  - Concept depicted by physical representation of visible disabilities, such as individuals in wheelchairs.

Highlighted that prior to the ADA in 1990, individuals with disabilities lacked civil rights and accessibility.
The ADA mandated building access considerations for individuals utilizing wheelchairs, marking a historic shift in norms regarding disability.

Societal norms regarding disability often stem from biological perceptions.
- Those with physical disabilities are viewed as not meeting standard biological anatomy.
- Mental disabilities are characterized as brain function discrepancies according to biological norms.
Examples:
- A broken arm is deemed abnormal because it does not meet biological function standards.
- Individuals with disabilities are labeled as broken or abnormal if not conforming to biological standards.

Ed Munson challenges the reliability of biological criteria in assessing abnormalities:
- Historical comparison to race as a poorly defined and scientifically flawed category.
- Argument: Greater biological variation exists within racial groups than between them.
Extending this critique to disability norms, he suggests that variation in characteristics among those deemed ‘normal’ is often wider than those between normal and abnormal categorizations.

Consideration of how universally accepted norms are established:
- What reasons underpin categorizations that define normality?
- Historical perspective on disabilities and societal views on care and functionality.
The necessity of care is universal, suggesting reliance on community and societal structures for all, including individuals viewed as disabled.

Recognition that current societal definitions of disability and norms rely heavily on social constructs rather than strict biological determinations.
Definitions of normality and abnormality are historically and culturally contingent, subject to change over time:
- Reflective of societal progress, as evident in legislation like the ADA.
- Norms have evolved, often due to implicit constructs born from societal awareness and advocacy.

Recognition that these social constructs lead to discrimination against disabled individuals, often relegating them to margins.
Advocacy and activism in disability studies aim to:
- Redraw the lines defining normal and abnormal.
- Address issues of accessibility and inclusion in society's evolution.
The ultimate goal is to advocate for less discrimination through modifying social constructs.

Emphasis on the importance of questioning established norms to create a more inclusive society.
Invite students to reach out via email for questions or discussions regarding the lecture and topics covered.