Philosophical Writings - On Free Will, Religion, Metaphysics, and Feminism

Helene Druskowitz (1856-1918) was the first German-speaking women to acquire a PhD in philosophy. She explored free will, religion, metaphysics, and feminism. In the four small books presented in this volume, she discusses previous attempts to replace religion (esp. Comte, Mill, Feuerbach, Lange, Nietzsche, Duboc, Düring, and Salter), advocates replacing religion with knowledge-based worldviews, proposes a dualism between matter and transcendent reality, and argues for moral responsibility without free will.
The paperback edition includes the English translations and a comprehensive introduction. The hardcover edition, which includes the English translations, a comprehensive introduction, and the German text, is available here:
As a radical feminist, Druskowitz advocated for gender segregation and women-led societal reform, even proposing human extinction as a moral imperative. Her ideas on male dominance and environmental degradation anticipated later eco-feminist thought. Though not widely recognized in her time, Druskowitz's work offers valuable insights into feminist philosophy, eco-feminism, and discussions on free will and criticisms of religion, providing historical context for these ideas' evolution in the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

About the author

Luka Boršić and Ivana Skuhala Karasman, Institute of Philosophy, Croatia.

Product details

• Authors: Helene Druskowitz
• Assisted by: Luka Borsic (Editor), Luka Boršić (Editor), Skuhala Karasman (Editor), Ivana Skuhala Karasman (Editor)
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 01.10.2025
• EAN: 9783119148658
• ISBN: 978-3-11-914865-8
• No. of pages: 180
• Illustrations: 4 b/w ill., 0 b/w tbl.
• Series: Women Philosophers Heritage Collection
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > 20th and 21st centuries; Verantwortung, Religionsphilosophie, Religion, Freier Wille, Das Böse, Responsibility, Philosophie: Metaphysik und Ontologie, EVIL, PHI022000 PHILOSOPHY / Religious, PHI013000 PHILOSOPHY / Metaphysics, free will