In this paper, I argue that Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction of sovereignty—characterized by ideals of strength and autonomy—reveals these values as obstacles to genuine transformation, particularly in relation to disability and AI prosthetics. Ableist norms cast disability as a deficiency requiring correction, limiting the potential for radical change. Drawing on Derrida’s critique of performativity, especially the able-bodied assertion of the “I can” of the sovereign subject, I demonstrate how this focus on sovereign mastery marginalizes disabled individuals and excludes the transformative possibilities inherent in weakness and vulnerability. By affirming weakness, we may begin to challenge ableist assumptions and create opportunities for more inclusive social structures. Viewed through this lens, AI prosthetics do more than merely compensate for disability; they become agents of transformation, disrupting the ableist narrative that equates power and ability with worth. This perspective reveals that the real limitation lies not in disabled bodies, but in societal norms that fail to recognize the value of vulnerability and interdependence. Weakness, disability, and interdependence are not shortcomings but conditions that can facilitate the transformation of ableist structures, positioning AI prosthetics as catalysts for a more inclusive future.

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An Affirmation of Weakness: Reimagining Disability Through Derrida and AI as a Prosthetic

  • Michael G. Sherbert

摘要

In this paper, I argue that Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction of sovereignty—characterized by ideals of strength and autonomy—reveals these values as obstacles to genuine transformation, particularly in relation to disability and AI prosthetics. Ableist norms cast disability as a deficiency requiring correction, limiting the potential for radical change. Drawing on Derrida’s critique of performativity, especially the able-bodied assertion of the “I can” of the sovereign subject, I demonstrate how this focus on sovereign mastery marginalizes disabled individuals and excludes the transformative possibilities inherent in weakness and vulnerability. By affirming weakness, we may begin to challenge ableist assumptions and create opportunities for more inclusive social structures. Viewed through this lens, AI prosthetics do more than merely compensate for disability; they become agents of transformation, disrupting the ableist narrative that equates power and ability with worth. This perspective reveals that the real limitation lies not in disabled bodies, but in societal norms that fail to recognize the value of vulnerability and interdependence. Weakness, disability, and interdependence are not shortcomings but conditions that can facilitate the transformation of ableist structures, positioning AI prosthetics as catalysts for a more inclusive future.