10. Dynamic Approaches

This chapter explores dynamic approaches to autism. It engages with the ideas of George Canguilhem to describe a dynamic and context-sensitive approach to pathology. Something becomes pathological in relation to an environment in which it cannot maintain itself. This leads to the experience of suffering. Hanne Dejaegher explores an enactive approach to the mind in general, and autism in particular: sense-making happens in coordination with others and should not be considered individualistically. For new materialist thinker Karen Barad, matter itself becomes dynamic, and the distinction of language versus essence or word versus thing stops making sense. Our words, our praxis matter, even literally. This has profound ethical consequences.