Doulia Neighborhood: Kittay on Dependency and Community

Noel Boyle, Belmont UniversityFollow

Location

Janet Ayers Academic Center, Room 4094

Presentation Type

Presentation

Start Date

24-9-2025 2:00 PM

Description

Eva Feder Kittay’s “dependency critique” contends that adequate accounts of the nature of community must include those with cognitive impairments, including severe cognitive impairments, as full members. Most accounts utterly fail this criteria. Kittay uses the concept of a doulia, inspired by the supporting roles that doulas play during childbirth, to suggest a foundation for community life that centers the universality of human dependency and inter-dependency. The resultant view not only recognizes cognitively disabled people as full members of our communities, but also celebrates the care that we all give and receive. Dr. Boyle’s talk with engage philosophical and personal reflections on Kittay’s work.

Comments

The Theme of September 24 is "Unleash Hospitality with Love"

WELLCore: Intellectual Wellness

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS
 
Sep 24th, 2:00 PM

Doulia Neighborhood: Kittay on Dependency and Community

Janet Ayers Academic Center, Room 4094

Eva Feder Kittay’s “dependency critique” contends that adequate accounts of the nature of community must include those with cognitive impairments, including severe cognitive impairments, as full members. Most accounts utterly fail this criteria. Kittay uses the concept of a doulia, inspired by the supporting roles that doulas play during childbirth, to suggest a foundation for community life that centers the universality of human dependency and inter-dependency. The resultant view not only recognizes cognitively disabled people as full members of our communities, but also celebrates the care that we all give and receive. Dr. Boyle’s talk with engage philosophical and personal reflections on Kittay’s work.