著者

永守 伸年

出版者

Japanese Association for the Contemporary and Applied Philosophy (JACAP)

雑誌

Contemporary and Applied Philosophy

巻号頁・発行日

vol.3, pp.28-45, 2012-02-01

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There has been increased emphasis on self-determination for people with disabilities since the Supporting Independence of Disabled People came into operation. As is generally known, the concept of self-determination has become a key part of Disability Studies. This concept allows people with disabilities—who were bound by the idea of economical or physical independence for many years—to see the possibility of autonomy, and led to the formulation of new welfare policies. On the other hand, Disability Studies distinctly reveals the bound of self-determination, which is the possibility of the exclusion of people with the most significant disabilities from the grouping of autonomous subjects. That is, we are faced with the question—does self-determination apply to people with the most significant disabilities, especially those with mental disabilities? This study attempts to answer this question by examining the relationship between autonomy and rationality. Firstly, to show the features of self-determination for people with disabilities, the Independent-living model is surveyed. Secondly, it is argued that this model is based on the premise of rationality, and that this premise necessarily suppresses people with the most significant disabilities. Finally, to avoid this suppression, the idea of "principled autonomy" is claimed. Principled autonomy, an alternative to "individual autonomy," which the Independent-living model depends on, can convert the relationship between autonomy and rationality.