http://www.esf.org/activities/esf-conferences/details/2009/confdetail273.html?conf=273&year=2009
funded by the European Science Foundation
THE PERFECT BODY: BETWEEN NORMATIVITY AND CONSUMERISM
Chaired by:
Dr.KatrinGrueberE-Mail
IMEW (Institut Mensch, Ethik und Wissenschaft)BerlinGermany
Dr.UrsulaNaueE-Mail
Life Science Governance Research PlatformUniversity of ViennaFaculty of Social SciencesDepartment of Political ScienceViennaAustria
Dates: 9-13 October 2009
Location: The conference will be held at Scandic Linköping Väst, Sweden – 7km from Linköping airport and 4km from the train station. Most notably, the Swedish chain Scandic Hotel´s commitment to sustainability won the Green Meetings Award in 2008. It is located in Linköping which is the capital of Östergötland county, situated in the center of a vast open farmland. It is Sweden’s fifth largest city with more than 136,000 inhabitants and has a long history as a city of learning.
Practical Information Guide PDF (263 KB)
Preliminary Programme
bpk / Gemäldegalerie, SMB / Jörg P. Anders
Enhancement as the improvement of desired characteristics (W. French Anderson) means to focus on abilities, capacities and quality of life. These categories can be viewed and defined from different value-driven perspectives which are based upon certain viewpoints on what constitutes “normality”. Furthermore they are framed by the concept of autonomy. The general approach towards the issue of enhancement can be understood in the context of consumerism – the “production” of enhanced persons as an act of individual freedom and choice. But another approach, which will be the main focus of the conference, is based upon the fact that perspectives of disabled persons on enhancement have been neglected so far. This is important as enhancement technologies can have different societal and political implications for disabled and non-disabled persons. The discussion about enhancement focuses on therapy of something in need of treatment. But with regard to disability, this debate about enhancement in contrast to therapy and treatment has to be re-thought and re-contextualised.
Hence, the conference takes as its starting point the view that it is socio-politically as well as ethically necessary and important to look at enhancement technologies from a “disability-perspective”. In the context of historic developments and the intersection of medicine and economy, enhancement technologies will be discussed from several different scientific perspectives. The conference is organised as an interdisciplinary dialogue and aims to provide an open forum for discussion and networking. This approach towards enhancement technologies is necessary, as the field of enhancement is an increasingly important area of intervention into life and the body. The conference will be the first international meeting to bring together Disability Studies, Science, Technology and Society Studies and Ethics.
The following are some of the questions that will be discussed:
* To what extent and in what way does consumerism influence the current debate about enhancement technologies?
* Which problems arise from this understanding of enhancement technologies for disabled and non-disabled persons and consumers of these technologies?
* What are the consequences of enhancement technologies for disabled persons?
* Is the “upgrade” an upgrade from old established norms or is a “new normal body” created?
* Who is excluded by both starting points of enhancing the human being?
* Do enhancement technologies carry a risk of excluding certain groups within society, such as disabled persons?
* How can consumerism be embedded in an ethical framework?
* What role does normativity play?
* What new possible forms of exclusion and inequality on several levels might occur as a result of using enhancement technologies? Questions such as these make it quite clear that the conference is a necessary and important way of approaching enhancement technologies that already have implications for both human beings and for society.
Preliminary Programme PDF (359 KB) Last Updated 16-February-2009
Application Form
To apply, fill in an Application Form.
Closing date for applications (as well as for abstract submission): 1 July 2009
Financial Support
Some grants are available for young researchers to cover the conference fee and possibly part of the travel costs. Grant requests should be made by ticking appropriate field(s) in the paragraph “Grant application” of the application form.
What conference fee covers
Basic expenses comprise:
* registration and meeting costs;
* accommodation in twin room sharing with another participant;
* all meals, coffee breaks and drinks included;
* participation at the excursion and the conference dinner;
* group transportation from/to the nearest airport.
Name
Description
To Pay
Grantee
Conference fee will be covered by ESF and its partners
0 €
Assisted
Conference Fee will be partially covered by ESF and its partners
375 €
Early Bird
Registration and payment NO LATER THAN 14 days before the registration deadline
700 €
Normal
Registration and payment LATER THAN 14 days before the registration deadline
800 €
Non-Residential
Conference participation without accommodation
550 €
Extra costs:
Name
Description
To Pay
Industry Supplement
For participants working in industry, 100 € will automatically be added to the fee
Plus 100 €
Single Room Supplement
Some single rooms may be available upon request. An additional cost of 150 € will be charged for an upgrade to a single room. The supplement is payable directly to the hotel.
Plus 150 €
Late Registration Supplement
An additional 150 € will be charged if participants register after the official registration deadline.
Plus 150 €
Cancellation:
Should you need to cancel your participation, please contact the Conference Officer immediately. If notice of cancellation is received more than two weeks before the conference, all but EUR 100 will be reimbursed. No refund is possible if notice of cancellation is received less than two weeks before the conference.
ESF Contact
Ms.AnneBlondeel-OmanE-Mail
Conference Officer
Phone: +32 (0)2 533 2024
Fax: +32 (0)2 538 8486
Please quote 09-273 in any correspondence.
Partnership
This conference is organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF) in partnership with Linköping University.
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