This book examines autism from the tradition of analytic philosophy, working from the premise that Autism Spectrum Disorders raise interesting philosophical questions that need to be and can be addressed in a manner that is clear, jargon-free, and accessible. The goal of the original essays in this book is to provide a philosophically rich analysis of issues raised by autism and to afford dignity and respect to those impacted by autism by placing it at the center of the discussion.

Autism: the very idea / Simon Cushing -- Embodying autistic cognition: towards reconceiving certain "autism-related" behavioral atypicalities as functional / Michael Doan and Andrew Fenton -- Autism and the extreme male brain / Ruth Sample -- I think, therefore I am. I am verbal, therefore I live. / Nick Pentzell -- A dash of autism / Jami L. Anderson -- Knowing other minds: ethics and autism / Anna Stubblefield -- Autism, empathy, and affective framing / Michelle Maiese -- Advocacy, autism and autonomy / David DeVidi.