A History of Women Philosophers: Volume III: Modern Women Philosophers, 1600-1900 [Hardcover]

M.E. Waithe (Editor)

Book Description

Series: History of Women Philosophers | Publication Date: December 31, 1990

edited by Mary Ellen Waithe Series: HISTORY OF WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS volume: 3 From the 17th century onwards, increasing numbers of mostly self-educated women became philosophers. The philosophical writings of Anna Maria van Schurman, Margaret Cavendish, Anne Conway, Mary Astell, Catharine Trotter Cockburn, Damaris Cudworth Masham, Harriet Taylor Mill, Harriet Martineau, Margaret Fuller, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Lou Andreas Salome, Germaine de Staehl, Sophie Germain, and Mary Sommerville were influential. Other philosophers, including Queen Kristina of Sweden, Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, Julie Favre, Clarisse Coignet, Anna Tumarkin, Hortense Allart de Meritens, Sophie Bryant, and Hedwig Bender were less well known. But all demonstrate expertise in many areas of philosophy: epistemology, logic, aesthetics, metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of science, of psychology, of religion, and, of mathematics. They write on such diverse topics as the mystical and the paranormal, the nature of thought, of faith, of morality, of liberty, of logic, and, the rights of women. Together they manifest philosophy's own transition from mysticism to logical positivism. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht March 1991 344 pp. Hardbound Dfl.196.00 BrP.78.50 March 1991 344 pp. Paperback Dfl.71.00 BrP.28.50

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (December 31, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792309308
• ISBN-13: 978-0792309307
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,744,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars 3RD VOLUME OF AN ASTONISHINGLY HELPFUL SERIES, October 13, 2009

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This review is from: A History of Women Philosophers: Volume III: Modern Women Philosophers, 1600-1900 (Paperback)

Mary Ellen Waithe is a Professor of Philosophy and Interim Director of Women's Studies at Cleveland State University. She is also the editor (and chief author) of the magnificent four-volume series, "A History of Women Philosophers."

Ms. Waithe describes the origin of this project in the "Introduction to the Series" found in Volume 1: When as a graduate student at the City University of New York, "I came upon a reference to a work by Aegidius Menagius, Historia Mullierum Philosopharum, published in 1690 and 1692. I had never heard of any women philosophers prior to the 20th century with the exceptions of Queen Christina of Sweden, known as Descartes' student, and Hildegard von Bingen, who lived in the 12th century." After she obtained a copy of this book (see Gilles Menage, "History of Women Philosophers"; there's no listing on Amazon), she discovered that "many of the women he listed as philosophers were astronomers, astrologers, gynecologists, or simply relatives of male philosophers. Nevertheless, the list of women alleged to have been philosophers was impressive." She was also strongly influenced by Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party" art exhibit, and the many women described therein as "philosophers." She says, "At my husband's suggestion, I took steps to ... create a team of experts to collaborate with me in this endeavor. I placed a notice in the SWIP (Society for Women in Philosophy) Newsletter and received a half-dozen responses from philosophers..." and the project began.

Volume 1, "Ancient Women Philosophers" (published in 1987) covers 600 BC-500 AD, and the early and late Pythagoreans, Aspasia of Miletus, Diotima of Mantinea (Waithe makes a strong argument for her historicity, contrary to the usual perception of Diotima as a fictitious character in Plato's dialogue "Symposium"), Julia Domna, Makrina, and Hypatia of Alexandria.

Volume II, "Medieval, Renaissance and Enlightenment Women Philosophers" (published in 1989) covers the period 500-1600, and thus includes Hildegard of Bingen, Heloise (Abelard's famous lover/wife), Mechtild of Magdeburg, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and others.

Volume III, "Modern Women Philosophers" (published in 1991) covers the period 1600-1900, and thus Margaret Cavendish, Kristina (Queen of Sweden), Anne Finch (Viscountess Conway), Sor Juana (who is often considered simply as a "literary" figure or poet, rather than as a thinker in her own right), Mary Wollstonecraft, Harriet Hardy Taylor Mill, and literally several dozen others.

Volume IV, "Contemporary Women Philosophers" (published in 1995) covers from 1900 to the present, and thus figures such as Lady Welby Victoria, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Lou Salome, L. Susan Stebbing, Edith Stein, Ayn Rand, Hannah Arendt, Edith Stein, Simone Weil, and many, many more.

Words are inadequate to describe the significance of these volumes for anyone with even the slightest interest in women philosophers, or the history of philosophy. While they are rather "pricey" (being priced to be purchased by LIBRARIES, not individuals), they are in invaluable investment. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!