The Women Philosophers: Essays in Feminist Philosophy and the Ontology of Gender

The contribution of women to philosophy and discussions of gender remain at the margins of philosophical research. The scientific monograph The Women Philosophers: Essays in Feminist Philosophy and the Ontology of Gender seeks to illuminate the reasons why it is still problematic to recognize a woman as a subject of thought whose experience shapes the human world. The author addresses some of the most significant questions in feminist and gender theory within an ontological framework. The book emphasizes the importance of critically examining patriarchal patterns and misogyny, as well as identifying and interpreting key works of theorists dealing with gender issues.

In the first part of the book, through representations of women in ancient myths, dramas, and philosophy, it is shown how the image of a woman in a patriarchal society is shaped. Such an image is confirmed by philosophical conceptions developed from Plato and Aristotle up to the nineteenth century. The private sphere was considered the only place for a woman, while exceptions mostly confirm this centuries-old rule. Nevertheless, even those rare examples often remain overlooked and marginalized, as evidenced by numerous works in the history of philosophy, even in the twenty-first century. The second part emphasizes the importance of the intellectual activity of the first female philosophers from antiquity - such as Hypatia of Alexandria through to those who laid the foundations of feminist philosophy itself, such as Simone de Beauvoir. The third part of the book deals with the topic of Otherness and contemporary discussions on the definition of key terms (woman, sex, gender), emphasizing that these concepts can be considered not only from an ontological perspective but also within other philosophical disciplines.

The book is intended for researchers, teachers, and students of philosophy, gender studies, and the social and humanities.