Female Philosophers
Philosophy is a broad system of thoughts about human being natural history and the natural world of the realism human beings live in. it addresses fundamental and pervasive issues and thereby guide us in the route we follow and how we handle other human beings. The basic issues it covers include; ethics, politics, metaphysics, epistemology and aesthetics (Thomas, 2009, par. 2). Ethics as an area of academic inquiry grew in west for more than two thousand (2000) years with little contribution from woman. The dearth of women voices implied that ethic concerns of male species have preoccupied customary western morals, and modeled its concepts and methods, and male unfairness towards women went almost unchallenged. Feminist morals look at the substantive consequence of this inequity on ethic philosophy and try to correct it. Women philosophy especially the moral one, focuses on commitment to stopping the oppression, abuse, subordination and exploitation of girls and women, everywhere it occurs (Friedman, 2002, par. 4). Those problems for instance restrictive sex responsibilities, rape, domestic violence and economic discrimination, were of vital concern as they had been greatly overlooked by men philosophers and thus women tried to swing philosophical focus to those issues (Friedman, 2002, par. 5).
We are going to look at different great women philosophers and their impact. First we look at Carol Gilligan who made remarkable contribution in her publications: In a Different Voice (1982) and Women and Moral Theory (1987). This philosopher reported noteworthy extent of relationship between sexual category and ethic orientation. She challenged men’s way of thinking in terms of justice, autonomy, rights and individuation in which she says they depend on nonrepresentational principles and look for universality of range. While women on the other hand try to keep away from abstract principles and instead major on contextual factor and interpersonal sensational receptiveness. Women keep away from hurting each other and care for the society as compared to men (Friedman, 2002, par. 7). This moral philosophy by Gilligan impacted positively as it gave insight into moral perspective, one which shapely contrasted with male moral philosophy and psychology. Further under her philosophy she brought out experimental confirmation for on the subject of the care perspective as a characteristically female ethical orientation. Gilligan philosophy gave esteem to women and attracted more women philosopher for example Annette Baier and Seyla Benhabib who wrote about caring and nurturing, personal relationships, relational self-identity and advantages of emotional openness to each other (Friedman, 2002, par. 8).
Hannah Arendt, 1906-1975 a German-born Jewish philosopher made impact in political area in her writing on anti-Semitic propaganda in German Early concerns in existentialism and the consideration of St Augustine shed light on political issues. Hannah Arendt was best known by publication The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) and Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963). Her rationalization for capital sentence in Eichmann’s case in which she argued that Jewish state never wanted to share the earth with Eichmann because there was no reason to do so. Further her publications, Life of the Mind and Reflections on Kant’s Political Philosophy which created political awareness. The strategies involved a search for options to utilitarian and Kantian morals, legalization of the individual standpoint and growth of a relationally oriented ethical psychology.
There was also another great philosopher by the name Hypatia of Alexandria who existed between C370-415AD who was seen as philosophical martyr by her admirers. Hypatia taught ideas concerning different stages of realism and human being’s ability to comprehend them. She apparently believed that all things in normal world originate from “the one” –and that people are short of mental ability to understand ult imate reality. Unfortunately her influence didn’t go well with city’s Christian society; they felt threatened probably due to her focus on the importance of science. Later she was killed by Christian mob. Her influence was both positively and negatively depending with individual stand namely science or Christian. For those scientist who admired her philosophy further tried to dig deeper and understand the idea of ult imate realism as they were positively influenced. Toward the end, scientist adopted a number of varied methodological strategies to defend the hypothesis and concept of ult imate reality that appeared well-matched that gave a reflection and comprehending mental capacity (Levenson, 2009, par. 9).
Finally Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) developed educational material on customary philosophy into fundamental of existentialism and feminism. She wrote about human being freedom, for instance, and about “being-for-itself” and “being-in-itself”. She calls for freedom and believing in individual’s capability. This influenced people to believe in freedom especially women who had been oppressed by men (Levenson, 2009, par. 10). In her second philosophical writing, she wrote about The Second Sex. Beauvoir (1949), talks about women having been held back by the norm that women were made from men. For the success of feminism, she argues that this normal must be broken. This goes well with Gilligan moral philosophy which called for women freedom.
Conclusion
These women philosophers had impact on society mostly positive as far as moral philosophy is concerned. feminist morals shares the common feminist objectives of doing away with the oppression and subordination of women and increasing communal respect for women’s standpoints and abilities(Friedman, 2002, par. 15).
Reference List
Friedman M. (2002). Women Philosophers: Carol Gilligan and Ethics. Cambridge University. Web.
Levenson E. (2009). Ten Great Female Philosophers. The thinking woman’s women. Web.
Thomas W. (2009). What is Philosophy? The Atlas Society. Web.