'The Women are Up to Something' — A Conversation with Professor Benjamin Lipscomb
Dec 7, 2022
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Professor Benjamin Lipscomb discusses the revolutionary women in 20th-century ethics. They focus on their impact on philosophy, access to colleges for women, intimate friendships among philosophers, and the debate between Anscombe and Lewis. The conversation delves into ethical naturalism, contrasting American and British perspectives, and the influence of philosophy post-World War II.
Four women revolutionized ethics in the 20th century by challenging positivism and advocating for virtue ethics.
Their collaboration fostered alternative philosophical perspectives in ethics and a commitment to ethical realism.
The collective influence of these women reshaped the philosophical landscape, opening new vistas for exploring ethics.
Deep dives
The Influence of Four Women on Philosophy
Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foote, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch reshaped ethical theory in the 20th century. Meeting at Oxford during the Second World War, these women underwent mentoring and encouragement that shaped their philosophical ideas. They challenged the dominant positivism of AJ Ayers, advocating for a return to virtues and vices to ground ethics in human nature. Midgley, in particular, focused on practical ethics, setting a path for applying ethical principles to real-life situations.
Intellectual Relationships and Academic Contributions
These four women found each other at Oxford, forming deep friendships and intellectual companionship. They influenced each other's work and critiqued the prevailing post-Ayers moral philosophy. While Midgley focused on practical ethics, Anscombe and Foote advocated for a return to virtue ethics. Their collaboration created space within the academic world for alternative philosophical perspectives in ethics and a commitment to ethical realism.
Legacy and Impact on the Philosophical Community
The contributions of Anscombe, Foote, Midgley, and Murdoch opened up new philosophical vistas and challenged the dominant philosophical paradigms of their time. Their work laid the foundation for a reevaluation of ethics, stressing the importance of virtues and grounding moral truths in human nature. While each woman had a distinct approach, their collective influence reshaped the philosophical landscape, paving the way for a deeper exploration of ethics beyond the positivist views of their era.
Ongoing Scholarly Endeavors and Future Projects
Benjamin Lipscomb's current research interests involve delving into the intellectual development of philosophers post-World War II. He is particularly intrigued by Richard Hare's shift in thought and the broader public engagement with philosophy in Britain after the war. Lipscomb contemplates writing a book on the public conversations surrounding philosophy in post-war Britain, exploring the rise and fall of public philosophy and its impact on intellectual discourse.
Influence and Distinctive Contributions
Benjamin Lipscomb's book delves into the lives and philosophies of four impactful women who reshaped ethical theory in the 20th century. By examining their relationships, academic contributions, legacy, and ongoing projects, Lipscomb highlights the enduring influence of these women on philosophy and the intellectual landscape. Lipscomb's research opens up new avenues of exploration into the intersection of ethics, virtue, and philosophical discourse.
This is Thinking in Public, a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about frontline theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them.
In this edition of the popular podcast series “Thinking in Public,” Albert Mohler speaks with Benjamin Lipscomb, professor of philosophy at Houghton University, about four women who revolutionized ethics in the 20th century. If you enjoyed this episode of Thinking in Public, you can find more than 150 of these conversations here. You can purchase “The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics” here.
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