Changing views on disability in Greco-Roman antiquity with Christianity: comparing the discourses in Plutarch and the Cappadocian Fathers
Keywords:
Christianity, disability, Plutarch, Cappadocian FathersAbstract
The introduction of Christianity marked a significant shift in the way ancient thinkers viewed people who exhibited some form of physical difference or intellectual difficulty. The article offers a comparison of these two perspectives, illustrated through texts from the 1st-century Greek intellectual Plutarch and the so-called Cappadocian Fathers, 4th-century Christian intellectuals. The traditional Greco-Roman view, which saw disability as a result of divine intervention, usually negative in nature, is gradually replaced by the Christian perspective. This new view holds that people with disabilities are essentially equal to others, possessing intrinsic value due to their belonging to the human family and because of being bearers of the divine image. This understanding will have ethical implications that should be manifested in mutual respect and responsibility, as well as in concrete practices of assistance and care driven by a righteous intention. The ultimate goal will be to restore the original equality that previously existed among human beings.
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