I think this is a very important topic for the disability community and
the field of disability studies.
Website for more information: http://www.esf.org/index.php?id=5256
ESF-LiU Conference
THE PERFECT BODY: BETWEEN NORMATIVITY AND CONSUMERISM
Chaired by:
Dr. Katrin Grueber
IMEW (Institut Mensch, Ethik und Wissenschaft)
Berlin
Germany
Dr. Ursula Naue
Life Science Governance Research Platform
University of Vienna
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Political Science
Vienna
Austria
9-13 October 2009
The conference will be held at Scandic Linköping Väst, Sweden – 7km
from Linköping airport and 4km from the train station. Most notably,
the Swedish chain Scandic Hotel´s commitment to sustainability won the
Green Meetings Award in 2008. It is located in Linköping which is the
capital of Östergötland county, situated in the center of a vast open
farmland. It is Sweden's fifth largest city with more than 136,000
inhabitants and has a long history as a city of learning.
Preliminary Programme
Enhancement as the improvement of desired characteristics (W. French
Anderson) means to focus on abilities, capacities and quality of life.
These categories can be viewed and defined from different value-driven
perspectives which are based upon certain viewpoints on what
constitutes "normality." Furthermore they are framed by the concept of
autonomy. The general approach towards the issue of enhancement can be
understood in the context of consumerism – the "production" of
enhanced persons as an act of individual freedom and choice. But
another approach, which will be the main focus of the conference, is
based upon the fact that perspectives of disabled persons on
enhancement have been neglected so far. This is important as
enhancement technologies can have different societal and political
implications for disabled and non-disabled persons. The discussion
about enhancement focuses on therapy of something in need of
treatment. But with regard to disability, this debate about
enhancement in contrast to therapy and treatment has to be re-thought
and re-contextualised.
Hence, the conference takes as its starting point the view that it is
socio-politically as well as ethically necessary and important to look
at enhancement technologies from a "disability-perspective." In the
context of historic developments and the intersection of medicine and
economy, enhancement technologies will be discussed from several
different scientific perspectives. The conference is organised as an
interdisciplinary dialogue and aims to provide an open forum for
discussion and networking. This approach towards enhancement
technologies is necessary, as the field of enhancement is an
increasingly important area of intervention into life and the body.
The conference will be the first international meeting to bring
together Disability Studies, Science, Technology and Society Studies
and Ethics.
The following are some of the questions that will be discussed:
* To what extent and in what way does consumerism influence the
current debate about enhancement technologies?
* Which problems arise from this understanding of enhancement
technologies for disabled and non-disabled persons and consumers of
these technologies?
* What are the consequences of enhancement technologies for
disabled persons?
* Is the "upgrade" an upgrade from old established norms or is a
"new normal body" created?
* Who is excluded by both starting points of enhancing the human
being?
* Do enhancement technologies carry a risk of excluding certain
groups within society, such as disabled persons?
* How can consumerism be embedded in an ethical framework?
* What role does normativity play?
* What new possible forms of exclusion and inequality on several
levels might occur as a result of using enhancement technologies?
Questions such as these make it quite clear that the conference is a
necessary and important way of approaching enhancement technologies
that already have implications for both human beings and for society.
--
Cheers
Gregor
Dr. Gregor Wolbring
Assistant Professor
University of Calgary
President-elect Canadian Disability Studies Association
webpage: http://www.bioethicsanddisability.org/
Ableism and Ability Ethics and Governance blog: http://ableism.wordpress.com
biweekly column The Choice is Yours: http://www.innovationwatch.com/commentary_choiceisyours.htm
Nano Bio Info Cogno Synbio Blog:http://wolbring.wordpress.com/
What Sorts of People blog: http://whatsortsofpeople.wordpress.com/
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