Mary Astell: Theorist of Freedom from DominationPhilosopher, 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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Page xiv
... defending the public- private distinction , these proto - Whigs created a public zone of political participation , from which women were excluded , and a private realm of domesticity , where women were ' enslaved ' as legal minors ...
... defending the public- private distinction , these proto - Whigs created a public zone of political participation , from which women were excluded , and a private realm of domesticity , where women were ' enslaved ' as legal minors ...
Page 10
... defended the existing social order , church and queen . This gives some commentators pause in apply- ing to her the epithet ' feminist'.26 But while caution against anachro- nism is prudent , the belief that Toryism disqualifies women ...
... defended the existing social order , church and queen . This gives some commentators pause in apply- ing to her the epithet ' feminist'.26 But while caution against anachro- nism is prudent , the belief that Toryism disqualifies women ...
Page 20
... defending it .... To plead for the Oppress'd and to defend the Weak seem'd to me a generous Undertaking'.76 By comparison : 77 Your whissling Wits may scoff at [ women ] , and what then ? It matters not , for they Rally everything tho ...
... defending it .... To plead for the Oppress'd and to defend the Weak seem'd to me a generous Undertaking'.76 By comparison : 77 Your whissling Wits may scoff at [ women ] , and what then ? It matters not , for they Rally everything tho ...
Page 30
... defend her character based on reports of those who knew her : 10 If she was deficient in the little niceties & punctilios in the Arts of Address it's not at all to be wonder'd at by those who are acquainted with her retired & studious ...
... defend her character based on reports of those who knew her : 10 If she was deficient in the little niceties & punctilios in the Arts of Address it's not at all to be wonder'd at by those who are acquainted with her retired & studious ...
Page 39
... defending education for women , even if he took a cheap shot in characterizing her female academy as a Protes- tant nunnery . The pamphlet warfare in which Astell and Defoe engaged from 1703 to 1704 is the subject of Chapter 6 . 3. The ...
... defending education for women , even if he took a cheap shot in characterizing her female academy as a Protes- tant nunnery . The pamphlet warfare in which Astell and Defoe engaged from 1703 to 1704 is the subject of Chapter 6 . 3. The ...
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argued argument Astell's Bishop Cambridge Platonism Cambridge Platonists Cambridge University Press Cartesian Charles Christian Religion cited civil claim Clarendon Concerning the Love constitutional critique Damaris Damaris Masham debate Defoe Descartes Discourse Dissenters divine doctrine Drake early modern edition Ellenzweig England English feminist Filmer Folger Library freedom from domination Glorious Revolution Goldie Head in St High Church History Hobbes and Locke Hobbes's Ibid ideas Impartial Enquiry James John Locke Judith Drake king King's Head Ladies Leslie Liberty before Liberalism Locke's Two Treatises Lockean London Lord Malebranche Mary Astell Masham Milton mind Moderation Truly monarchy natural rights Norris Norris's notion occasional conformity Oxford pamphlet Parliament patriarchalism Paul's Church-yard philosophical Printed published Quentin Skinner reason reference Reflections upon Marriage religious republican rhetorical Roman Sacheverell Serious Proposal sermon Shaftesbury Short-Ways Skinner slavery social contract soul Stillingfleet theory things Thomas Hobbes tion toleration Treatises of Government Whig William women