WGS 340 - Feminist Philosophy

Feminist theorists from Simone de Beauvoir to Sandra Harding have identified gender ideologies at the core of our tradition’s basic philosophical concepts, including concepts of reason and knowledge, identity and autonomy, justice and power. If this is true, then feminist analysis is not merely a women’s or “feminist” project but is a crucial theoretical lens for anyone who seeks to think critically about basic human categories. Setting off from this insight, this course engages 20th century feminist philosophy from across the globe to examine how gender ideologies have influenced our thinking and how feminist criticism can help us to approach human problems with greater thoughtfulness and rigor. Specific problems to be addressed include the cultural sources of oppression, the tension between human rights and cultural differences, the gendered character of militarism, and the political implications of our knowledge practices. Also listed as PHIL 340.