Towards an ethics of Autism : A philosophical exploration / Kristien Hens.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-178) and index.

PART I: DIMENSIONS OF AUTISM .-- 1. The Origins of Autism .-- 2. The Nature of Psychiatric Diagnoses .-- 3. Cognitive Explanations of Autism: Beyond Theory of Mind .-- 4. Sociological and Historical Explanations of Autism .-- PART II: EXPERIENCES OF AUTISM .-- 5. Difference and Disability .-- 6. Epistemic Injustice and Language .-- 7. Experiences of Autism.-- 8. Interlude: Autism and Time .-- PART III: DYNAMICS OF AUTISM .-- 9. Labels and Looping Effects .-- 10. Dynamic Approaches .-- 11. Autism and Genetics .-- Epilogue: Towards an Ethics of Autism.

What does it mean to say that someone is autistic?Dynamics of Autism is an exploration of this question and many more. In this thoughtful, wide-ranging book, Kristien Hens examines a number of perspectives on autism, including psychiatric, biological, and philosophical, to consider different ways of thinking about autism, as well as its meanings to those who experience it, those who diagnose it, and those who research it. Hens delves into the history of autism and its roots in the work of Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger to inform a contemporary ethical analysis of the models we use to understand autism today. She explores the various impacts of a diagnosis on autistic people and their families, the relevance of disability studies, the need to include autistic people fully in discussions about (and research on) autism, and the significance of epigenetics to future work on autism.Hens weaves together a variety of perspectives that guide the reader in their own ethical reflections about autism. Rich, accessible, and multi-layered, this essential reading for for philosophers, educational scientists, and psychologists who are interested in philosophical-ethical questions related to autism, but it also has much to offer to teachers, allied health professionals, and autistic people themselves.