Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.21464/fi39113

Epistemic Injustice, Autism and the Neurodiversity Movement

Kristina Lekić Barunčić orcid.org/0000-0003-3921-4391 ; Filozofski fakultet, Sveučilište u Rijeci, Sveučilišna aleja 4, HR–51000 Rijeka

Abstract

Knowledge can be acquired through the processes of listening or reading testimonies of other agents. How and, particular, to whom, one ascribes trustworthiness when listening or reading a testimony is of special interest in this paper, especially in terms of societal-epistemic deviations that appear in the form of epistemic injustice. Neurotypicals, individuals with typical neurological states and developmental pathways, perceive individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as an aberration from neuro-normativity, unable to contribute on an equal basis to the pool of epistemic resources and shared meanings. The latter is related to the stereotypes of the unreliability of autistic persons’ testimonies about their own experiences and conditions. Given that atypical social and behavioural conditions autistics share are clinically classified as a disorder, the question of whether we can justify the failure to extend trust to the autistics arises.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorder; epistemic injustice; epistemic violence; neurodiversity movement; trustworthiness

Hrčak ID:

224018

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/224018

Publication date:

6.3.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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