Preface

Tatsuya Mima*
* Editor-in-Chief of the Ars Vivendi Journal
* Professor, Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences, Vice-director, Institute of Ars Vivendi, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan

This issue of the Ars Vivendi Journal features three contributions, each offering unique insights into the field of disability studies and beyond.

The first article, “Rethinking Disability Law: Theoretical Limitations and Transformative Possibilities” by Professor Angharad E. Beckett, introduces the Human Rights Model of disability. This paper builds upon the lecture delivered by Professor Beckett at the research meeting held by Institute of Ars Vivendi at Kinugasa Campus of Ritsumeikan University in 2024.

The second piece is a conference report by Kazunori Yamaguchi, a graduate student at the Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences, Ritsumeikan University. Yamaguchi offers a detailed account of the Disability Studies Conference 2024, hosted by the University of Leeds, shedding light on recent developments and discussions within the discipline.

The third contribution is a poignant obituary written by Professor Osamu Nagase, commemorating the life and work of Professor Shinya Tateiwa. Professor Tateiwa served as the long-standing Director of the Institute of Ars Vivendi, leaving a profound impact on the community and the broader field of disability studies. We would like to take this moment to extend our deepest condolences and pay tribute to his remarkable legacy.

It is our hope that this issue serves as both a reflection and a continuation of the critical dialogues that shape the study of disability, ethics, and society.