"Carlson (philosophy, Providence College) provides a valuable, in-depth exploration of the philosophical and moral underpinnings of understanding of persons with intellectual disabilities. She surveys historical perspectives over time, looking at how people with intellectual disabilities became increasingly marginalized in society and at how perception of this segment of society as 'other' resulted in the creation of the asylum and later the institution for the 'feeble-minded.' Within the confines of these institutions, residents were often treated as 'pets,' a conceit that is evident in current ethics discourse and debates surrounding animal rights and speciesism. Using the deconstructionist analysis pioneered by Michel Foucault, Carlson provides effective countervailing arguments against such ethicists as Peter Singer, who assume an equivalence between severely cognitively impaired infants and nonhuman animals, using potentialities as the criterion. Carlson argues that the complexities of human nature should be acknowledged and accepted within the social community. The book is a bit pedantic, but Carlson's logic is impeccable. This will be vital resource in a variety of disciplines. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. Choice"
Stony Brook University - Lisa Diedrich
A bold, critical intervention into the domains of disability studies, philosophy, and bioethics.
D. J. Winchester
Carlson (philosophy, Providence College) provides a valuable, in-depth exploration of the philosophical and moral underpinnings of understanding of persons with intellectual disabilities. She surveys historical perspectives over time, looking at how people with intellectual disabilities became increasingly marginalized in society and at how perception of this segment of society as 'other' resulted in the creation of the asylum and later the institution for the 'feeble-minded.' Within the confines of these institutions, residents were often treated as 'pets,' a conceit that is evident in current ethics discourse and debates surrounding animal rights and speciesism. Using the deconstructionist analysis pioneered by Michel Foucault, Carlson provides effective countervailing arguments against such ethicists as Peter Singer, who assume an equivalence between severely cognitively impaired infants and nonhuman animals, using potentialities as the criterion. Carlson argues that the complexities of human nature should be acknowledged and accepted within the social community. The book is a bit pedantic, but Carlson's logic is impeccable. This will be vital resource in a variety of disciplines. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. — Choice
D. J. Winchester]]>
Carlson (philosophy, Providence College) provides a valuable, in-depth exploration of the philosophical and moral underpinnings of understanding of persons with intellectual disabilities. She surveys historical perspectives over time, looking at how people with intellectual disabilities became increasingly marginalized in society and at how perception of this segment of society as 'other' resulted in the creation of the asylum and later the institution for the 'feeble-minded.' Within the confines of these institutions, residents were often treated as 'pets,' a conceit that is evident in current ethics discourse and debates surrounding animal rights and speciesism. Using the deconstructionist analysis pioneered by Michel Foucault, Carlson provides effective countervailing arguments against such ethicists as Peter Singer, who assume an equivalence between severely cognitively impaired infants and nonhuman animals, using potentialities as the criterion. Carlson argues that the complexities of human nature should be acknowledged and accepted within the social community. The book is a bit pedantic, but Carlson's logic is impeccable. This will be vital resource in a variety of disciplines. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. Choice