Women Philosophers in Nineteenth-Century Britain

In nineteenth-century Britain, many women wrote philosophy, but they have been overlooked in the philosophical canon. This book introduces twelve important women philosophers who wrote on naturalism, philosophy of mind, evolution, morality, and religion, and discusses their views in conversation with one another. Despite the restrictions women faced, such as limited access to university education, the rich print and periodical culture of the period enabled them to publish their philosophy in forms accessible to a general readership.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 13 January 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In the 19th century, a remarkable phenomenon emerged in Britain: women were actively engaged in the field of philosophy, writing on a wide range of philosophical topics. However, despite their significant contributions, these women thinkers have been largely overlooked and forgotten in the annals of philosophical history. The purpose of this book is to rectify this injustice by reintroducing twelve remarkable women philosophers to the forefront. These women include Mary Shepherd, Harriet Martineau, Ada Lovelace, George Eliot, Frances Power Cobbe, Helena Blavatsky, Julia Wedgwood, Victoria Welby, Arabella Buckley, Annie Besant, Vernon Lee, and Constance Naden.

Alison Stone, in her insightful exploration, delves into the philosophical perspectives of these women, examining their views on naturalism, philosophy of mind, evolution, morality, and religion. She highlights how these women engaged in lively conversations with one another, as well as with their male contemporaries, shaping and developing their philosophical ideas. The rich print and periodical culture of the 19th century played a pivotal role in enabling these women to publish their philosophy in accessible forms, despite the various challenges they faced, such as limited or no access to university education.

However, it is worth noting that these women's exclusion from the history of philosophy can be attributed to a cultural shift that occurred towards the end of the 19th century. This shift was marked by a growing emphasis on specialized forms of philosophical writing, which often required academic credentials that were largely unavailable to women. As a result, these women were marginalized and their contributions overlooked, leaving a void in the philosophical canon.

In conclusion, this book serves as a powerful testament to the remarkable achievements of 19th-century British women philosophers. By reintroducing these women to the philosophical discourse, we hope to inspire a new generation to recognize their valuable contributions and to continue to expand the boundaries of philosophical inquiry. Their ideas and insights continue to resonate today, and their legacy deserves to be celebrated and preserved.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192874719