This seminar series is hosted by the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing and The Oxford Martin School, and funded by the John Fell Fund.

Speaker: Professor Christina Schües, Professor at the Institute for the History of Medicine and Science Research, University of Lübeck, Germany

Bodily and Social Vulnerability: a phenomenological perspective on the practice of care
Vulnerability is a central aspect of the human condition. This lecture addresses the fundamental question of how to understand vulnerability from a phenomenological perspective for a practice of care. Even though ‘vulnerability’ is often used in ethics, care practices, and political discourse, its meaning and normative impact are not always clear. Bodily, linguistic, and juridical vulnerability are intertwined with a person’s integrity and their lived experiences in both relations and society.