Sophie Smith, a writer and researcher on women's contributions to Western philosophy, discusses the cycle of forgetting women philosophers throughout history. They highlight biases in historical narratives, manipulation of philosophical texts, barriers faced by women in philosophy, and the importance of recognizing overlooked female thinkers.
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Quick takeaways
Women philosophers have been systematically omitted from historical narratives by male scholars.
Contemporary challenges for women in philosophy include gender bias, exclusion, and navigating a male-dominated environment.
Intersectionality in philosophy reveals unique hurdles faced by women of color, addressing barriers of race, gender, and class within the discipline.
Deep dives
Highlighting the Controversy of Forgotten Women in Philosophy
The discussion delves into the historical erasure of women from mainstream intellectual history, emphasizing the deliberate omission of women philosophers from various academic narratives. It highlights the significant contributions of women to philosophical thought throughout history and raises questions about why women philosophers have been systematically written out of the history of philosophy by male scholars.
Challenges Faced by Women in Philosophy
The conversation addresses the contemporary challenges faced by women in the field of philosophy, revealing instances of overt contempt, gender bias, and exclusion perpetuated by both male professors and peers. It explores the gender dynamics within academia, particularly in philosophy, where women often struggle to navigate a male-dominated and exclusive environment.
Intersectionality in Philosophy
There is an examination of the intersectionality within philosophy, shedding light on the unique obstacles encountered by women of color in philosophical academia. The discussion underscores the historical barriers faced by black women in accessing education and entering philosophical discourse, elucidating the complex dynamics of gender, race, and class within the discipline.
Sustainability of Remembering Over Forgetting
The dialogue contemplates the sustainability of remembering historically overlooked philosophers, cautioning against perpetuating cycles of forgetting. It advocates for integrating forgotten women philosophers into mainstream historical narratives authentically and persistently, ensuring their continued presence in academic discourse.
Challenges Amidst Sociopolitical Turmoil
Amidst sociopolitical turmoil, the conversation reflects on the current academic climate marred by censorship, ideological suppression, and targeted attacks on marginalized academics. It raises concerns about academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and the resilience needed to combat oppressive forces that seek to erase voices from the past and present.
The recovery of history’s ‘lost’ women is often associated with the advent of feminism, but, Sophie Smith writes, women’s contributions to Western philosophy have been regularly rediscovered since at least the 14th century. She joins Tom to discuss what we can learn from the women who held their own alongside Plato, Descartes and Hume.