The Ethics of Autism Among Them, but Not of Them [Paperback]

Autism is one of the most compelling, controversial, and heartbreaking cognitive disorders. It presents unique philosophical challenges as well, raising intriguing questions in philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and philosophy of language that need to be explored if the autistic population is to be responsibly served. Starting from the theory of mind thesis that a fundamental deficit in autism is the inability to recognize that other persons have minds, Deborah R. Barnbaum considers its implications for the nature of consciousness, our understanding of the consciousness of others, meaning theories in philosophy of language, and the modality of mind. This discussion lays the groundwork for consideration of the value of an autistic life, as well as the moral theories available to persons with autism. The book also explores questions about genetic decision making, research into the nature of autism, and the controversial quest for a cure. This is a timely and wide-ranging book on a disorder that commends itself to serious ethical examination.

This is an important book, and deserves a wide readership among academics and practitioners involved with autism, as well as among philosophers.This book will be of great interest to philosophers and students of philosophy on the issues of autism and what it means to be a person.

Deborah R. Barnbaum is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Kent State University and editor (with Michael Byron) of Research Ethics: Text and Readings. She lives in Kent, Ohio.

Bronze medal winner in the Health/Medicine/Nutrtion category, Independent Book Publishers Awards[The Ethics of Autism] provides a serious examination of the moral and ethical issues surrounding autism and Asperger's syndrome. Although there are many books about autism, in the 66 years since the condition was first described none has tackled the ehtics of autism head on in the way that Barnbaum does. This book kick-starts the ethical debate that I think we need.VollÃÝ