Steven R. Smith
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9781847426079
- eISBN:
- 9781447302209
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847426079.003.0006
- Subject:
- Sociology, Social Stratification, Inequality, and Mobility
This chapter explores equality, identity, disability and other related themes, and argues that, consistent with social work codes of ethics and mainstream social policy objectives, the disability ...
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This chapter explores equality, identity, disability and other related themes, and argues that, consistent with social work codes of ethics and mainstream social policy objectives, the disability rights movement (DRM) promotes universal values of equal rights and individual autonomy, drawing heavily from Kantian philosophy. However, an anti-universalised Nietzschean perspective is also promoted via the social model of disability, challenging the political orthodoxy of rights-based social movements, and the aspirations of social workers to empower disabled people. In this chapter it is argued that the Kantian and Nietzchean strands within the DRM are also incommensurable, but again, when held in tension, permit a radical assertion of disability identity, without conceding to the uncriticality of value relativism and postmodern particularism, but allowing a thorough ‘celebration of difference’ by establishing and promoting reciprocal and interdependent social relations with others who are radically different.Less
This chapter explores equality, identity, disability and other related themes, and argues that, consistent with social work codes of ethics and mainstream social policy objectives, the disability rights movement (DRM) promotes universal values of equal rights and individual autonomy, drawing heavily from Kantian philosophy. However, an anti-universalised Nietzschean perspective is also promoted via the social model of disability, challenging the political orthodoxy of rights-based social movements, and the aspirations of social workers to empower disabled people. In this chapter it is argued that the Kantian and Nietzchean strands within the DRM are also incommensurable, but again, when held in tension, permit a radical assertion of disability identity, without conceding to the uncriticality of value relativism and postmodern particularism, but allowing a thorough ‘celebration of difference’ by establishing and promoting reciprocal and interdependent social relations with others who are radically different.
