Mary Astell: Theorist of Freedom from Domination

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Cambridge University Press, Dec 5, 2005 - Philosophy - 372 pages
Philosopher, theologian, educational theorist, feminist and political pamphleteer, Mary Astell was an important figure in the history of ideas of the early modern period. Among the first systematic critics of John Locke's entire corpus, she is best known for the famous question which prefaces her Reflections on Marriage: 'If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?' She is claimed by modern Republican theorists and feminists alike but, as a Royalist High Church Tory, the peculiar constellation of her views sits uneasily with modern commentators. Patricia Springborg's study addresses these apparent paradoxes, recovering the historical and philosophical contexts to her thought. She shows that Astell was not alone in her views; rather, she was part of a cohort of early modern women philosophers who were important for the reception of Descartes and who grappled with the existential problems of a new age.

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Contents

XI
27
XII
34
XIII
39
XIV
42
XV
48
XVI
58
XVII
67
XVIII
81
XXXVI
155
XXXVII
164
XXXVIII
169
XXXIX
170
XL
173
XLI
176
XLII
178
XLIII
181

XIX
84
XX
87
XXI
90
XXII
96
XXIII
102
XXIV
107
XXV
111
XXVI
113
XXVII
115
XXVIII
119
XXIX
122
XXX
127
XXXI
130
XXXII
135
XXXIII
143
XXXIV
147
XXXV
151
XLIV
187
XLV
189
XLVI
192
XLVII
197
XLVIII
201
XLIX
204
L
209
LI
215
LII
224
LIII
230
LIV
239
LV
257
LVI
317
LVII
327
LVIII
347
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