Essay

Essay Philosophy (PI11007)

0 purchase

Module
Philosophy (PI11007)

Institution
University Of Dundee (UoD)

This essay discusses how Rene Descartes and other Cartesian philosophers' views impacted feminism. It explores how the mind-body dualism theory aided women in fighting for their rights and acknowledges other philosophers who argued that this theory was actually damaging to women.

[Show more]

Preview 2 out of 8 pages

View example

Uploaded on May 28, 2022
Number of pages 8
Written in 2020/2021
Type Essay
Professor(s) Unknown
Grade A

philosophy
cartesianism
feminism
descartes
mind body dualism
sexism
mary astell
misogyny
womens rights
thinking thing

£8.49

Add to cart

Add to wishlist

100% satisfaction guarantee
Immediately available after payment
Both online and in PDF
No strings attached

Evaluate how Cartesianism impacts feminist thought

Cartesian philosophy has often been viewed as an ally to feminism. This is due to the

Cartesian French philosopher Rene Descartes, and his proposal of mind-body dualism.

Asserting that the mind and body are two distinct substances, Descartes’ theory challenged

the established view that women were intellectually inferior due to their bodies. Descartes’

work acted as a jumping-off point for feminism, with the philosopher Mary Astell utilising

his arguments to campaign for women’s rights. However, the impact Cartesianism had on

feminism has been questioned in recent times, with many arguing its contribution has been

overstated. Most notably, philosopher Simone de Beauvoir claimed that mind-body dualism

was damaging to women.

Philosophy has long been a male-dominated subject, often perpetuating misogynistic views.

Ancient philosopher Aristotle stated, “that the courage of a man lies in commanding, a

women’s lies in obeying” (Witt & Shapiro, 2021). During Descartes’ time, women were still

viewed as unequal to men. A 17th-century physician Marin Cureau de la Chambre claimed

that sex influenced the mind. It was a common belief that a women’s body was cold and

moist making her weak and passive, while a man was hot and dry meaning he was strong

and active (Broad, 2017). In Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, by going through the

‘method of doubt’ he concluded that he was only certain he was a ‘thinking thing’. He

asserts the concept of mind-body dualism writing, “I have a distinct idea of a body, insofar

as it is merely an extended thing and not a thinking thing, it is certain that I am really distinct

from my body” (Descartes, 1641: 78). Descartes suggests that although the mind and body

, are in some way intertwined, they are separate substances. If they are two distinct entities

then the body, including its sex, cannot interfere with or influence the faculties of the mind.

He further illustrates this point by stating, “my mind is not immediately affected by all the

parts of the body, but only by the brain” (Descartes, 1641: 86). Although Descartes never

explicitly mentions gender, his ‘sex-neutral’ account of the mind was a progression from the

prejudiced view that a women’s body hindered her intellectual ability.

Moreover, Descartes’ impact on feminism can also be seen through his relationship with

Elisabeth of Bohemia. Descartes and Elisabeth exchanged letters discussing philosophy from

1643 until his death in the early 1650s. Despite women at this time being excluded from

academic and philosophical discussions, Elisabeth had a great influence on Descartes’ work.

Both of Descartes’ renowned books, Principles of Philosophy and The Passions of the Soul

were dedicated to her and reflected many of the issues they explored together (Shapiro,

2021). Although Elisabeth showed extensive knowledge and insight about philosophical

matters through her letters, she refused to publish her correspondences to Descartes. They

were finally published long after her death in 1879. Also, she had no systematic

philosophical work, and her views were only expressed through discussions with male

philosophers – primarily Descartes. The fact that Descartes discussed philosophy with a

woman let alone incorporated her views within his work, shows he clearly respected and

valued her contributions. This was unusual as women historically were not seen as worthy

to discuss or learn about philosophy (Witt & Shapiro, 2021). Therefore, Descartes’

relationship with Elisabeth suggests he shared the feminist belief that women should be

included in academia and that their views should not be undermined because of their sex.

However, the impact this had on feminism cannot be overstated. Despite the importance of

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller carapatterson. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for £8.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

69988 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 15 years now

Start selling