Abstract
Liberal theory traditionally neglects the citizenship problems of mentally handicapped persons, preferring to concentrate upon those with unequivocal claims to the status of citizenship. Bruce Ackerman has recently resurrected the usage of dialogic methods in establishing the content of liberal theory. This paper uses different versions of such methods to stress the powerful claims which may, despite Ackerman's denial, be used to extend this status to this group. Three such methods are suggested—representative dialogue, Ackerman's own form of dialogue, and action as dialogue. It is subsequently argued that Ackerman considerably underestimates the interaction between political and biological definitions of incapacity; he, therefore, fails to consider that a lack of citizenship simply reinforces dialogic inability.
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