Singer, Peter (1946- ), Australian philosopher and bioethicist. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Singer studied at the University of Melbourne and at the University of Oxford, in England. He began his career lecturing ethics at Oxford from 1971 to 1973. He subsequently worked at various universities in North America and Australia. In 1977 he became a professor of philosophy at Monash University, in Melbourne. Singer also became closely associated with the university's Centre for Human Bioethics, which is dedicated to the study of the moral implications of biomedical discoveries. He served as its director from 1987 to 1991 and as its deputy director from 1992. In 1999 he became a professor at Princeton University's Center for Human Values.…
The controversial Ashley treatment to stop the growth of disabled children raised a lot of questions back in 2012. A good number of patients already implemented the treatment before it became public. Following this, Peter Singer wrote an article to criticize the legitimacy of the treatment. His essay, “The 'unnatural' Ashley treatment can be right for profoundly disabled children,” was meant to criticize the integrity of the treatment. His particular concern was the feelings of the children towards the treatment.…
In her essay, "On Being a Cripple", Nancy Mairs reflects on her life as a "cripple" due to multiple sclerosis (MS). It is truly admirable how she is able to remain in such a positive attitude despite her unfortunate consequences. Instead of asking for people's sympathy, Mairs wanted herself to be identified as a cripple instead of a handicapped or disabled person. She even believed that her condition helped to enrich her life and define the person she is. It is truly remarkable how she can face such an event with so much courage and confidence. Her essay certainly teaches a lesson about how one should not feel sorry for his/her disadvantages, but rather live it to the fullest…
She states that although such disabilities signify a major change in one’s life, they dont kill him or her. She for example, could do and does the same as any other woman her age.…
In the essay “Disability”, writer, public speaker, and self-acclaimed “radical feminist, pacifist, and cripple” Nancy Mairs examines how the general public responds to individuals with disabilities as well as how the media portrays these aforementioned individuals (Mairs 12). She begins her essay by describing herself as a crippled woman with multiple sclerosis, speaking about her condition, and stating that she has never noticed a cripple woman like herself in the media. When the media does portray someone with multiple sclerosis- or a like disability, it’s focused almost entirely on the disability rather than the person’s character, indicating that their condition “devour[s] one wholly” (Mairs 12). Despite the fact that such disabilities…
When I put myself in Nancy Mairs' shoes, I could sort of feel the feelings she's trying to express but I'm more than sure it's not even close to how she feels. Nancy certainly is capable of delivering her message to her audience and I completely agree with the fact that there should be no differences between able and disabled people whatsoever. Disabled people could always be trained to deal with needs and wants. Needs, that is, walking normally, talking constantly and moving from place to place.…
"Terri Schiavo 'Responsive ' Until Death. 'This is a case of throwing away a disabled person '." Life Site News, 2005-APR-01.…
Nancy Mairs's essay “Disability from Carnival Acts describes how the speaker, Nancy Mairs, lives every day with a disability. She reveals her view on the handicap and disabled. Nancy Mairs has multiple sclerosis, weakening of the bones, and she feels as if she is being judged and is inferior to everyone else. The audience is definitely aware of how she feels. She is very blunt about her feelings and everything else. She wants to make a stand for all the disabled people. The essay displays desperation, as well as hope. She is desperate to be equal and to no be judged; She has hope that one day all handicap will be equal. Nancy Mairs is a true symbol of how handicap people can persevere, stand through anything, and triumph over adversity. She lives a competent life filled with judgmental people looking at her poorly, simply because of her disability.…
Nancy Mairs starts her essay by describing herself as a crippled woman with multiple sclerosis. She talks about her condition and how she’s never seen a crippled woman like her in the media. Then she mentions some television shows about disabled people that focus almost entirely on disabilities and neglect the person’s character. Mairs states that although disability changes a lot in one’s life, it doesn’t kill him/her. She for example, can do what every other woman her age can do. And although she’s a great consumer, advertisers never choose someone like her to represent their products publicly; and the reason for that, according to Mairs, is that people cannot yet accept the fact that disability is something ordinary. The consequences of this situation are hash on disable people, for they might feel like they don’t exist. Finally, Nancy Mairs says that anyone might become disabled. But if one sees disability as a normal characteristic then it…
The poignant story of Jean-Dominique Bauby’s life begins in December 1995, when he finds himself in a hospital, recovering from a severe coma, both paralyzed from head to toe and unable to speak. Though Bauby’s mind is still intellectually intact, he is diagnosed with what most people call today, “locked-in-syndrome”. Through his powerful words, Bauby, the author and narrator of this story, takes us on a journey filled with pain, loss and courage. I believe that though Bauby did indeed have a disability, he only fit into two of the three definitions categorized as having a disability; these being, function barriers (impairments) , activity barriers (Disabilities) and participation barriers (Handicap).…
Throughout the essay, “Becoming Disabled” by Rosemarie Garland-Thomas, her main claim that she argues is that she wants the disabled community to be politicized in the eyes of society. First, Garland-Thomas talks about politicizing disabilities into a movement. She compares and contrasts movements for race and sexual orientations to the movements about disability (2). Disability movements have not gained as much attention as race or sexual orientation movements because so many Americans do not realize how prominent disability separation is in America. She wants people to start recognizing that disability is just as important as race and other movements. Next, Garland-Thomas speaks about different types of disabilities and how they aren’t always…
The Open Letter to Ann Coulter by John Franklin Stephens is the one that I make me feel impressive. Franklin is a man with Down syndrome, but the way he write letter make all of us have to think about ourselves. It was wrote for Ann Coulter, but I think that every people should read it. This message it for people who disregard the disability people, and who think that: an intellectual disability means dumb and shallow, Stephens. I have done some research about Ann Coulter, the “R”, and what she said was really insult disability people but she refused to say sorry. John Franklin was so strength and it touches my heart. People who are not disability still complain about their lives, but John Franklin with Down syndrome is living a happy live,…
The Where I’m from poem was a great piece of writing because it showed us where everyone was from and what it was like in their family it was kind of funny to see some traditions and everyone be grossed out or everyone just laugh at it but they knew what they meant by it and accepted it. This writing was also one of my best pieces of work this year and I was happy.…
In closing, I learned a lot by reading about Michael J. Fox’s accomplishments, both in his personal life dealing with his disease and his career. He is a very noble man who deals with his disability everyday to the best of his ability and…
Envision a sibling or close relative having a mental or physical disability. They are in the hospital in critical care. It is not clear if they will survive and the thought of euthanasia comes to mind. One wonders whether their life is worth living anymore due to the trauma that has occured. This despondent way of thinking is often much more negative than those of the patient. One can not measure someone else’s life just by looking at it. Every being’s life on earth is worth living. No one can play the role of God and decide when that person’s life should be terminated. Life is delicate and should be handled with care and protected, not destroyed.…