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
... principle to which they appeal , customary right , addressing her principal argument against the proto - liberal posi- tions of Milton and Locke . Astell argued that , by defending the public- private distinction , these proto - Whigs ...
... principle to which they appeal , customary right , addressing her principal argument against the proto - liberal posi- tions of Milton and Locke . Astell argued that , by defending the public- private distinction , these proto - Whigs ...
Page 5
... principle of action and follow it . In this respect she followed Aristotle , the Stoics and , curiously , John Locke , foreshadowing also the position on freedom of that neo - Stoic Rousseau . For this reason , perhaps , exponents of ...
... principle of action and follow it . In this respect she followed Aristotle , the Stoics and , curiously , John Locke , foreshadowing also the position on freedom of that neo - Stoic Rousseau . For this reason , perhaps , exponents of ...
Page 18
... Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy , first published in Latin in Amsterdam in 1690 as part of a three - part collection , Opuscula philosophica , and most likely prepared for publication by More , would have been ...
... Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy , first published in Latin in Amsterdam in 1690 as part of a three - part collection , Opuscula philosophica , and most likely prepared for publication by More , would have been ...
Page 25
... principle , as well as undermining the social anthropology in which contractarianism was embedded . Drake is especially effective in this manoeuvre , attacking social contract both as an analytic construct - as in Hobbes - and as a ...
... principle , as well as undermining the social anthropology in which contractarianism was embedded . Drake is especially effective in this manoeuvre , attacking social contract both as an analytic construct - as in Hobbes - and as a ...
Page 36
... principles of their ancestors . If the Tories did not exhibit such a finely calibrated array of factions in the eighteenth century , it may have been because they represented the aristocratic fragment on their way out , shunted aside 36 ...
... principles of their ancestors . If the Tories did not exhibit such a finely calibrated array of factions in the eighteenth century , it may have been because they represented the aristocratic fragment on their way out , shunted aside 36 ...
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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