The Woman of Reason - Feminism, Humanism and Political Thought

This important and timely book challenges the direction taken by much recent work in the field of feminist studies. It mounts a powerful defence of humanism - a tradition of which many contemporary feminists have been sharply critical. Many feminists have viewed 'reason' and 'rationality' with deep suspicion. They have argued that reason was constructed by male philosophers in a way that excluded feminine traits: the man of reason was a masculine fiction.
But this rejection of humanism assumes that there is only one tradition of humanism and only one conception of the rational individual. By carefully re-examining the texts of a feminist humanist tradition, Karen Green uncovers a different conception of the rational individual - a 'female version of rationality'. She captures the specificity of women's thought through a careful examination of their writings and their differences from the work of their male contemporaries.
On this basis, Green argues that we need to reconceptualize both rationality and liberalism. Maintaining the ideal of rationality is quite compatible with understanding ourselves as embodied, emotional creatures whose sense of self is made up of a mixture of reason and feeling. Feminist humanism can provide a firm basis for political action and a compelling defence of equal political representation for women and men.

Table des matières

Acknowledgements. Introduction.
1. Against Feminist Anti-Humanism.
2. Women of Virtue.
3. Hobbes, Amazons and Sabine Women.
4. Virtuous Women and the Citizen of Geneva.
5. The Female Citizen.
6. Socialism, Sex and Savage Society.
7. Flight from the Other.
8. Reason, Femininity, Love and Morality.
Index.

A propos de l'auteur

Karen Green is a lecturer in Philosophy at Monash University, Australia.

Résumé

This text challenges the direction taken by much recent work in the field of feminist studies. It mounts a defence of humanism - a tradition of which many contemporary feminists have been sharply critical, as they saw reason as constructed by men and oppressing women.

Détails du produit

• Auteurs: Green, Karen Green, Karen (Monash University Green, Green Karen
• Edition: Wiley
• Langues: Anglais
• Format d'édition: Livre de poche
• Sortie: 20.04.1995
• EAN: 9780745614496
• ISBN: 978-0-7456-1449-6
• Pages: 224
• Dimensions: 200 mm x 250 mm x 150 mm
• Poids: 312 g
• Thèmes: Feminism, Humanism and Politic; Feminism, Humanism and Politic
• Catégories: Littérature spécialisée > Philosophie, religion > Philosophie: général, ouvrages de référence; Sciences humaines, art, musique > Philosophie > Général, dictionnaires; Sciences sociales, droit, économie > Sciences politiques > Sciences politiques et formation politique; PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, Philosophy, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Feminism & Feminist Theory, RELIGION / Sexuality & Gender Studies, PHILOSOPHY / Movements / Humanism, Feminism & feminist theory, Feminism and feminist theory, Humanist & Secular Alternatives To Religion, Humanist philosophy, Humanist and secular alternatives to religion