Philosophical and social-theoretical accounts of what makes a good life seem far from the lived experience of people with intellectual disabilities. However, in this chapter we reflect on the implications of such theories and ideas for how a good life is framed and understood in the context of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. In undertaking this task we explore the second of the questions that provide the framework for this book: what are the implications for people with intellectual disabilities of thinking about the good life?

From the account in Chapter Two of some of the themes that have been seen to constitute a good life we identified a series of subquestions that seem to be related to the broad question posed above. These are:

• • Given the strong focus on the importance of reason in philosophical thought on a good life, what are the consequences for groups of people whose reason is perceived as flawed, impaired or ‘inferior’ to those around them?

• • Does this preclude them from leading a ‘good life’?

• • If, as it would seem, a good life is integrally related to the inner life of the individual, how do we find out what people with intellectual disabilities want?

• • What emphasis, if any, should be given to ‘duty’, ‘virtue’ and commitment to others in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities?

• • If people are unable to show us that they are ‘reflective’ or ‘plan for the future’ how do we then consider a good life for and by them?

• • How have the tensions between the freedom of the individual and constraint been played out in the way a good life is conceived for people with intellectual disabilities?

• • If we accept the critique of modern happiness offered by Bauman, what does this mean for a good life for people with intellectual disabilities?

• • Are people with intellectual disabilities restricted to a life of ‘pleasure’, planned for them and given value by others?

Each section of this chapter deals with a subset of these questions.

Reason

What are the implications of a good life that is focused on reason for people with intellectual disabilities?