In this interview, Dr. Joel Reynolds discuss the ableist assumptions and conflations that undermine the dignity and rights of disabled persons. Dr. Reynolds also shares how their work (and their own story) highlights the ways in which the lived experiences of disabled persons challenge commonly held assertions of what it means to live a good life.

The ableist conflation that undergirds much of Western philosophy generally follows these four steps:

1. Disability necessarily involves a lack or deprivation of a natural good.
2. Deprivation of a natural good is a harm.
3. Harm causes or is itself a form of pain and suffering.
4. Given 1-3, disabilty comes along with or directly causes pain and suffering.

Dr. Reynolds walks through this while also providing phenomenologies of pain and ability.

Extremely enlightening! Found this very helpful and thought provoking. Thank you PJ for bringing Dr. Reynolds on to open our eyes to the many facets of living with disabilities/chronic pain and to be aware of the biases we inadvertently hold and explaining how to be forward thinking and our part in this community

Thank you for sharing this most interesting interview on Disability, Pain and Morality with Dr Joel Reynolds. I can relate to his brother and mother since becoming disabled over a decade ago, with mobility issues and various kinds of chronic pain (severe migraines, neuropathic and inflammatory). How those (not all, but most I'd say from experience) in charge (Blue badge, doctors, policy makers etc) demean and ignore chronically ill people. We are, after all, still worthy. Contributing in our own distinct ways.

Yes, disability will most probably happen to every one of us, if not before 'old age'. And it is a societal issue that begs addressing (as does diet, as another important issue - discussed on this programme). Disability and chronic pain just aren't discussed enough.

For one to become chronically ill with severe chronic pain it is a very isolating experience. One lived every day and every night.

However, each of us lives in an individual bubble and rarely reaches out to 'the other' and therefore it remains 'not my problem'.

I'll listen to this talk again sometime, there's a lot there! And, I'm inspired to read more about how the Japanese live - what differences there are to Western societies.

Please keep in mind our first commenting rule:

> Read the Post Before You Reply

> Read/listen/watch the posted content, understand and identify the philosophical arguments given, and respond to these substantively. If you have unrelated thoughts or don't wish to read the content, please post your own thread or simply refrain from commenting. Comments which are clearly not in direct response to the posted content may be removed.

This subreddit is not in the business of one-liners, tangential anecdotes, or dank memes. Expect comment threads that break our rules to be removed. Repeated or serious violations of the subreddit rules will result in a ban.

This is a shared account that is only used for notifications. Please do not reply, as your message will go unread.