Disability: Definitions, Value and Identity

What is disability? Why terminate a pregnancy when disabling traits are diagnosed in the foetus? Can disability be part of a person’s identity? These are important questions in the current climate of increased pre-natal screening programmes designed to further reduce the numbers of children born with disabilities. This book looks at disablement from a philosophical perspective by examining these questions through a combination of critical review discussion and narrative theory. Disability: definitions value and identity provides practical and concise information for social care workers counsellors academics students genetics counsellors and medical and healthcare ethicists. It will also be invaluable for disability pressure groups and policy makers. ‘Professor Edwards tackles the question of the value of disabled persons’ lives head on by examining three related issues: the definition of disability; the possibility of leading a good life; and the question of personhood and identity. As he points out these three seemingly disparate issues are in fact closely related; and in this book they are woven together with the idea of narrative identity which brings a fresh perspective to these well trodden fields. The great strength of this text is its attention to method and detail. In a field where rhetoric sometimes replaces argument Professor Edwards is meticulous in presenting a logical sequence of argument and counter argument. In each section he lays out the key theoretical issues the main contending points of view and methodically refutes or accepts each in turn until he arrives at a well supported and logically coherent conclusion. If we are to grapple fully with questions about disability then we must look beyond a narrow medical or psychological discourse and examine as this book does fundamental questions of what it is to be a person and what constitutes a good human life. Professor Edwards has provided us with an excellent place to engage that struggle.‘ Tim Stainton in the foreword