Introduction

1. There have been few women philosophers until the last 75 years; the first major women philosopher were Hannah Ardent (The Origins of Totalitarianism) , Simone de Beauvoir (The Second Sex), and Iris Murdoch (The Sovereignty of the Good).

2. Feminist philosophy tries to do philosophy from a "woman's perspective" which means incorporating their suppression in a male dominated society and their unique experiences.

3. More women are now professional philosophers and show interest in all areas of philosophy, not just feminist philosophy.

A. Women and Moral Theory--Annette C. Baier, "What do Women Want in a Moral Theory" (1985)

1. Most ethical theories have been based on power in one's decisions and over one's environment; the emphasis is on obligations to fulfill duties, which requires power; also the emphasis on utilitarianism presupposes one can predict and bring about desired consequences; social contractualism presupposes power;

2. Women traditionally have tend to view moral relationships differently; they emphasize love and relationships more than power; women need to build upon previous "male" ethical theories but add the woman's experience

3. The basic motif is the appropriate expression of trust; love involves trust

a. if the main model is contractualism, then it's hard to emphasize trust because

power is the key possession to carry out the contract

b. trust involves vulnerability, to take risk

c. the test for trust--if all motives were exposed, the relationship would be enhanced

B. Nature and Gender Equality--Joyce Trebilcot, "Sex Roles: The Argument from Nature (1975)

1. Whether differences between the sexes are natural or not, they should not affect the roles

2. Natural psychology claims the differences as:

a. Inevitability--the roles are natural whether we want them or not, but (according to

Trebilcot) even if psychological differences are innate, roles are not

inevitable because people choose what kind of person they are

b. Well-being--the different sexes are happier in different roles, and if women are

forced into male roles, then it would be contrary to their nature and well-

being; however, this is not substantiated by research to make a law of it;

c. Efficiency--society would function better if people are assigned their roles by

nature; however, efficiency is not a higher moral value than liberty, justice,

and equality of opportunity.

3. The argument of sexual differences and roles based upon nature is a myth used to support patriarch.

4. The real issue is moral justification, not nature

C. Women and Mind-Body Dualism--Rosemary Radford Ruether, Liberation Theology: Human Hope Confronts Christian History and American Power (1972)

1. Descartes' dualism makes others and the body as objects and the self as the only real subject;

2. Mind-body dualism has led to 3 kinds of alienation:

a. from oneself as one's own body;

b. from fellow persons in a alien community;

c. from the world which is material.

3. Anti-materialistic spirituality actually contributes to these alienations

4. Dualism actually leads to the oppression of weaker people and the exploitation of the environment;

a. since women give birth, they've been considered more natural and hence inferior

to men who are more rational

b. women hence become sex objects to the more power sex in society

5. The moral issue--to work for fulfilling the world, others, and the body.