Emily Dobson

Life-grounded ethics aims to ground the basis for value in life. In order for a universal application of an ethical code to be possible, it ought to be grounded in the needs that are required for life itself, whether the needs are those of human beings, other animals, or the environment. However, while life-grounded ethics takes a wide approach to satisfying those needs, and allows for the independence and diversity of all cultures and backgrounds, often the conception of a good life is bound up with with ideas of meaningful work that tend to limit contribution to labour. The concept of contribution being linked exclusively to work denies those who are unable to work from being seen as contributors in their communities, and thus fails to recognize that they too can lead a good life. A life-grounded approach, which broadens the conception of what counts as contribution, can not only remove the stigma from those who may be unable to work, but can help to break down the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in their communities.This approach acknowledges that the ways in which those with disabilities are active in their communities will depend on their own experiences, and that meeting the specific avenues through which they access life-needs will take equal consideration. Keywords: life-value, disability, contribution, interdisciplinary.