"What is the relationship between disability and well-being? (In this post, I'll call this the Relationship Question.) The Relationship Question is both enormously complex and highly fraught -philosophically, socially, and politically. Philosophers have starkly different views. One prominent view, held by Elizabeth Barnes, is that disability is a Mere Difference: having a disability does not, on its own, make one's life go worse, although in our ableist society, disabled people are more likely to live worse lives because of barriers and stigmas."
"On the other hand, philosophers like Peter Singer have held that the lives of disabled people are typically worse than the lives of non-disabled people. According to Singer, disabilities can prevent individuals from pursuing some of life's central pleasures and opportunities. Some of Singer's writings have provoked the vitriol of many in the disabled community. I'll say more about that below."
The Relationship Question examines how disability relates to well-being. Philosophical positions sharply diverge between treating disability as a Mere Difference that does not inherently worsen life and viewing disability as typically reducing life quality by limiting access to central pleasures and opportunities. Social factors such as ableism, barriers, stigma, and structural disadvantages often worsen outcomes for disabled people. The question is largely empirical and requires careful engagement with research across psychology, public health, economics, and medical sciences. Robust conclusions require attention to disability types, severity, measurement choices, and the social and policy contexts that shape lived experiences.
Read at Apaonline
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