Great is our Sin: Neuroprivilege in Modern Autism Discourse
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Authors
DeGraffenreid, Lauren J.
Issue Date
2019
Type
Dissertation
Language
Keywords
Autism Studies , Enthymeme , Neuroprivilege , Neurorhetoric , Neuroscience , Theory of Mind
Alternative Title
Abstract
Disability and Neurorhetorics have taken significant strides in unpacking disabling language and discourse within modern autism studies. The rhetoric of science has determined multiple useful strategies for isolating the mechanisms by which these discursive paradigms operate. However, less attention has been devoted to the origin of theories suggesting that observed differences in autistic behavior necessarily indicate deficiencies in cognitive ability. Rigorous work demonstrating propagation and dissemination of these concepts through time within disciplinary publishing is needed to expose how flawed ontological perspectives on neurotype can integrate themselves into neuroscientific practice. This work employs lexical and visual enthymeme analysis to explore how driving, value-laden premises behind disablist language can become accepted as legitimate scientific ‘facts’ considered foundational within a discipline.