Brainstorming

[saorisan]

One What do you consider to be the most intriguing or revealing aspect/event of contemporary American history?

Two Who, if anyone, do you find most convincing of all modern and historical female philosophers? (& why?)

Comments

You couldn't think of one?

[saorisan]

Theano is always the first female philosopher that I think of. She was the wife of Pythagoras and philosopher in her own right.

HIstorically, most major philosophical academies had female students. "In the Greek school of philosophy run by Pythagoras there were many women who joined in as teachers and scholars. Those in his school lived in a communal manner and published all their writings under the name of Pythagoras. Today, then, it is difficult to determine who actually did which work, although some information has survived, such as that on Theano."

What about Philippa Foot? Or Lenore Weitzman, or Mary Astell?

"It unlikely to be the case that a "male dominated society of philosophers" have failed to recognize
female philosophers simply because they are female. Philosophy may be dominated historically by
men, but women are well recognized today. If a philosopher is not [widely] recognized it does not mean that
he/she is not a good philosopher. It is probably that he/she addresses issues which are not popular,
or they receive inadequate publicity."

quotes from various textbooks in my possession, etc

Re: You couldn't think of one?

[goyascats]

If you're going to include Mary Astell, then you've broadly widened the category. I tend to think of philosophy as encompassing only normative politics, or metaphysics, or other such boring stuff.

Re: You couldn't think of one?

[saorisan]

I've been taught that philosophy is the love of wisdom, and it counts as philosophy if it addresses either ontological, metaphysical, epistemological or an axiological question. Based on this criteria, I definitely believe that Mary Astell's writings qualify to be included in the category of philosophy.