白癡的歷史：18世紀至今世人如何看待智能障礙者

by Simon Jarrett, 賽門‧賈勒特, 劉卉立 (Translator)

生而為人，他們與你我為何「應該」不同？

◎第一本從人性關懷的角度討論智能障礙者的歷史書
◎收錄63張歷史圖像，重新思索300年來世人眼中的「白癡」

白癡、智障、低能……那些曾被貼上標籤，遭受歧視之人，今日稱之「智能障礙」者。一般認為他們天生智能不足，無法完全理解大多數人能理解的事情，缺乏獨立生活的技能，且終其一生都不會改變或被治癒。他們生活在你我周邊，卻彷彿不屬於這個世界。相較於有可能被「治癒」的精神病患，智能障礙者成為更加邊緣與不受關注的存在。


天生就該成為「收容所生物」？

本書從社會、文化、法律、醫學等面向，透過法庭紀錄、文學作品、笑話集、畫作、俚語、漫畫等重構「白癡」的300年歷史。在18世紀以前，智能障礙者雖可能遭受欺負與矇騙，但也同時受親友的保護，是社會群體中的一份子。

進入19世紀後，他們被認為無法履行公民義務且是需要處理的「社會問題」，應該安置在機構中接受治療與監管。而他們的天生殘疾，過去在法庭上可能是受到寬赦的理由，如今卻解讀成驅使他們犯罪的動力，「白癡」成為對社會秩序造成威脅之徒。


生而為人的標準是什麼？為何不能僅僅因為父母生下我？

近百年來，智能障礙者被認為僅是不斷變動的歷史長河中一段背景，無法對人類產生貢獻。但在第一次世界大戰時，他們曾經是技術勞工，填補了男性人力的短缺，卻在戰爭結束後又被迫離開崗位，回到收容所。

智能障礙者也在過去也經常被視為「非人」。達爾文及其後發展出的演化心理學，認為「白癡」的心智足以填補動物與人類這種「高等生物」之間的發展落差，「白癡」的行為舉止甚至被拿來與動物相比擬。

在優生學出現後，智能障礙者在納粹眼中成為應當被消滅的對象，1939年的法令甚至對「垃圾兒童」施以安樂死。二戰結束，優生學觀念雖受到譴責，但智能障礙者仍舊無法被社會接納，而被關入特定機構中受到「保護」。


從排斥到接納的旅程

20世紀下半葉，在去機構化的呼聲下，許多身心障礙者終於搬出收容所，回歸社區，過上一般人的生活。不過，現實中仍有需要面對的問題：他們是否得到社會完整的接納？在社會群體中有找到歸屬感嗎？他們可以多大程度上和我們一起履行公民職責？本書作者希望透過這段歷史重新思索這些問題。也許首先我們該做的是，理解他們也懷抱希望、有他們熱切與渴望，如你我一般。

Genres: Nonfiction, History

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Tom Almeroth-Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating, meticulously researched and deeply moving book which I would recommend to anyone interested in British (esp.), early modern, modern, social, scientific and cultural history, as well as disability history.

Jarrett’s writing is consistently clear and engaging (even when explaining complex legal issues) and crucially, is packed with extraordinary details of forgotten lives.

Anyone with a personal or professional connection to learning disabilities will, of course, find this book particularly powerful. But there is so much here to inspire, delight, shock, horrify and warn readers of all kinds. As a father to a young child with learning disabilities, I find it really empowering and reassuring to know that this book and its call for greater acceptance are out in the world.

If you are worried that this topic must make for depressing reading, please don't let this put you off. Jarrett doesn’t shy away from upsetting issues and events but page after page, this book is full of love and kindness. I was particularly moved by 18th century examples of friends and neighbours rushing to defend so-called “idiots” in court, often putting their own lives on the line to do so. I was left with a really strong desire to meet, talk to and hug so many of the wonderful, determined and kind people brilliantly described in the book.

This is one of the finest history books I’ve read and a much-needed force for good.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. An incredibly thorough and fascinating account of a sub section of history. Slightly repetitive at times but I learnt SO much, especially about colonisation and the thought processes behind it at the time which I wasn’t expecting. Would read other books by this author.

[Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

great historical perspectivve on perceptions and conceptualization of idiocy and feeble-mindedness from the 18th century... however, the ideological agenda is pretty clear (e.g., "Is the
murderous beast of the institution on the march again?") and many issues are papered over

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating history of how the West has treated people with learning disabilities.

[Beachcòmah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Extremely well researched and written by someone who worked in the field of mental illness for many years.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a work project, as I needed background information on the development of the place of people with learning disabilities and how they were conceptualised in society in the past, and this book was recommended to me. It is really, really fascinating and makes a coherent argument as well as making a clear connection between the changes in attitudes to disabled people and indigenous peoples in colonised countries. Well worth the time and effort.

[Nyika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent history of the treatment of learning disabled people from the 18th century to the modern day. Accessible, readable, and very well researched. It only drops a star as I would have been interested to know more about life inside the asylums, and to have heard more of the voices of people with learning disabilities. That aside, extremely recommended.

[Alexander Ballantyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a health professional this is the most depressing book I've read in a long time.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely interesting and eye-opening. The information in this book deserves to be more widely known.

I highly recommend reading this book.

[Sarah Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible insight into how learning disabled people were treated within the UK throughout history and how that impacts how they are treated now.