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Synopsis
This book examines a range of important conceptual, ethical, social, and religious issues arising from mental handicap. It contains a vigorous defense of the contention that mentally handicapped human beings are persons. It attacks both the contemporary philosophical attempts to dismiss the personhood of mentally handicapped people and the genocidal policies which those attempts suggest. It explores the logic of the attitudes which have lead to the marginalization and oppression of the mentally handicapped.
Booknews
Byrne (ethics and philosophy of religion, King's College, London) surveys the conceptual, ethical, social, and religious issues arising from mental handicap by examining the definition of mental handicap, its relations to IQ, and to the scientific study of intelligence. Byrne is a theological defender of the mentally handicapped against those like Peter Singer accused (often unfairly) of comparing the mentally handicapped to animals. Byrne bases the privileged status of humans upon our being the subjects of divine love, and belonging to a common family that must look out for one another over and above other species. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)