Abstract
It is within the context of a person’s lifestory, we argue, that the idea of wearing aprosthesis assumes place and meaning. Todevelop this argument, a brightly colored hookprosthesis for children is taken as a startingpoint for reflection. The prosthesis can beseen as fitting this person perfectly, when thebodily difference is understood as positivelyadding to this person’s identity. The choicefor the prosthesis is normative in a moralsense, in that it is grounded in a person’sfundamental convictions with respect to hisbeing and living. This understanding of ‘howto live’ can best be grasped – as is suggested– in contrastive terms of ‘sameness’ and‘otherness’. Striving for conformity andsimilarity would do no justice to theexperiences and ideals of unique persons, andwould come at great cost. Moreover, society isnot benefited by persons who merely conform,who copy and imitate others, but by those whowillfully live up to their own unique standards.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bolt, I. and H. Wijsbek: 2002, Beauty and the Doctor; Moral Issues in Health Care with regard to Appearance.Final Report of a European Research Project (EUR PL 963164). Rotterdam: Erasmus University.
Cunningham, A.: 2001, The Heart of What Matters. The Role for Literature in Moral Philosophy. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Dorset Orthopedic News: 1998, Autumn.
Edwards, S.D.: 1996, ‘Plastic Surgery and Individuals with Down’s Syndrome’, in: I. de Beaufort, M. Hilhorst and S. Holm (eds.), In the Eye of the Beholder; Ethics and Medical Change of Appearance. Copenhagen: Scandinavian U.P., pp. 26–33.
Flanagan, O.: 1996, Self-Expressions; Mind, Morals and the Meaning of Life. New York: Oxford U.P.
Ginsborg, H.: 1997, ‘Kant on Aesthetic and Biological Purposiveness’, in: A. Reath, B. Herman and Chr. Korsgard (eds.), Reclaiming the History of Ethics; Essays for John Rawls (Cambridge: Cambridge U.P.), pp. 329–360.
Goffman, E.: 1990, Stigma; Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity, 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall (Penguin), 45 ff.
Halprin, S.: 1995, “Look at My Ugly Face”; Myths and Musings on Beauty and Other Perilous Obsessions with Women’s Appearance. New York: Viking Penguin.
Hilhorst, M.T.: 2002, ‘Physical Beauty: Only Skin Deep?’, Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy; A European Journal 5, 11–21.
Landsdown, R. and N. Rumsey a.o. (eds.): 1997, Visibly Different; Coping with Disfigurement. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Ricoeur, P.: 1992, Oneself as Another. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Schechtman, M.: 1996, The Constitution of Selves. Ithaca/London: Cornell U.P.
Sol, A.A.M. and D.H. Plettenburg: 1998, ‘The Wilmer Appealing Prehensor’, Conference book IXth World Congress ISPO, pp. 646–648.
Trouw (Daily newspaper): 1999, December 9; see also Http://www.tudelft.nl/mms/wilmer/newhook.htm.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hilhorst, M. ‘Prosthetic fit’: On personal identity and the value of bodily difference. Med Health Care Philos 7, 303–310 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-004-5528-y
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-004-5528-y