2nd ASN Conference: “Making Connections”
Loughborough University, U.K.
3-5 September 2012
No papers have been uploaded for this panel stream
Anarchism as a creative political solution ought to have something serious to contribute on questions of health. This can be broadly construed in terms of ecological health or narrowly focussing on human health. Why is there not more explicit discussion on health in the context of anarchist thought?
In this panel we can use the opportunity to:
Explore the perspective provided by anarchist ideas on ethics and responsibility to see if they can be useful in pursuing the goal of individual health promotion in terms of but not restricted to the patient-led NHS model. Where anarchism promotes individual freedom, autonomy and responsible action in its ethical outlook, some key problems and challenges for discussion arise.
Firstly, such a stance, if used to support improving individual lifestyle choices, has to deal with the difficult issues of consumer choice.
Secondly the role of the state viewed by some forms of anarchism as fundamentally limiting human freedom, so how does this sit with the role of the state in the promotion of healthy lifestyles?
Thirdly, individual freedom in anarchist thought needs to be robust enough to dispense with consumer ‘freedom’, which is arguably at the root of many unhealthy lifestyles and behaviours. An emphasis on a responsible individualism however, can easily neglect the relationship between health and social responsibility.
A fourth is to see if an anarchist conception of individual responsibility with regard to the promotion of healthy lifestyle can be successful at the in-group/community level.
Paper proposals should be sent to Dr Niall W. R. Scott, Lecturer in Ethics, Course Leader MA in Bioethics and Medical Law, Secretary for the Association of Legal and Social Philosophy (ALSP)
Centre for Professional Ethics University of Central Lancashire Preston, PR1 2HE, UK tel.: 01772-892547
E-mail: nwrscott@uclan.ac.uk