The great Italian philosopher specializing on the informational revolution, Luciano Floridi observes right in the beginning of his 4th Revolution how disability is becoming one of the biggest health related issues for humanity in the years to come .
But, philosophically speaking, what does it mean to be disabled? In my weaker moments I like to think the hardships I have been through are due to my color blindness, I am one of the ca 8% of Norwegian men being red-green color blind. Objectively speaking, this color blindness is not a big problem, but it pops up now and then, just to remind me that I am not like the others, I do not understand, I cannot dress myself, I am disabled.
What is a human being? What is his ability and dis-ability?
Comparing a human being to an animal - at the most basic level - what does it look like?
Animals don't wear clothes. Why not? They are readily equipped from nature to live in their environment without need for the protection offered by clothing. A human being is weak compared to the forces of nature he inhabits. Through creating tools and artificts she(he) enables himself as an agent into his environment. This is a fundamental trait of what it means to be a human being. An astronaut is nothing without his space suit and shuttle. Disabled people over the world are in a similar situation, the environment which they are in is more or less hostile to their happiness. But with the correct equipment, it can be done.
To be human is to be disabled. A human being grabs the tools it can to make a worthy life.
Computers are one of the most ability enhancing invention ever,
due to their complete programmability of function.
The living soul and mind of man utilizes whatever it needs to flourish. Being human means to use, extend and adjust whatever is given from nature, to try to meet the concept of the optimal model of happiness and enjoyment.
