Should we use the phrase “differently abled” instead of “disabled”? Is a disability just an interface problem? Ken introduces Anita Silvers, professor at San Francisco State University. Silvers claims that ‘disability” is a social convention, a politicized term. It has been used historically to remove certain people from the workplace. Is obesity a disability? Silvers wants to frame the discussion in terms of disability discrimination rather than necessary and sufficient conditions on disabilities. 

Is there a nonsocial component to the concept of disability? Silvers says that there used to be an idea of “bad biology” that was used against people with disabilities. What is the biological difference between a disease and a disability? John goes over three responses to disability that he has heard in the past: view it as a deficiency, view it as ennobling, and view it as a mere difference. Where does reasonable accommodation end and social hijacking begin? Silvers starts with people who have anomalous biology. Society may have to change certain practices to accommodate disabled people. How much accommodation is reasonable? Should society change to accommodate all disabled people? 

Is it fair to compare blindness to deafness or obesity? Each of those is very different from the others. Are learning disabilities in the same ballpark as, say, deafness? Who should bear the financial burden for accommodating disabled people? Silvers says that disabled people must first show that they count as disabled then show that their disability needs accommodation.

• Roving Philosophical Report (Seek to 04:30): Amy Standen interviews Anita Schaffer who relates her experience being blind in an era when people did not accommodate her disability. 

• Philosophy Talk Goes to the Movies (Seek to 46:30): John and Ken dig into the philosophical aspects of The Incredibles.