Contingent Natures and Virtuous Knowers: Could Epistemology be ‘Gendered’

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Kukla ◽  
Laura Ruetsche
Keyword(s):  
Epistemology Of Science ◽  
Traditional Epistemology ◽  
Sandra Harding ◽  
Genetic Fallacy ◽  
Feminist Epistemologies

When Sandra Harding called for an epistemology of science whose systematic attention to the gendered Status of epistemic agents renders it ‘less partial and distorted’ than ‘traditional’ epistemologies, some commentators recoiled in horror. Propelled by ‘a mad form of the genetic fallacy’ they said, she descends ‘the slide to an arational account of science.’ On a less melodramatic reading, feminist epistemologies such as Harding's advocate not irrationalism, but senses of rationality more expanded than those which they associate with ‘traditional’ epistemology.

Feminist epistemology Piercy’s Woman on the edge of time

1989 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Billie Maciunas
Keyword(s):  
Social Activity ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Feminist Epistemology ◽  
Sandra Harding ◽  
Critical Interpretation ◽  
Knowledge Seeking ◽  
Feminist Epistemologies

Sandra Harding's view of science as a social activity leads her to propose critical interpretation as a mode of knowledge-seeking particularly useful for theorizing "the effects on the natural sciences of gender symbolism, gender structure, and individual gender." I have chosen Piercy's novel, Woman on the Edge of Time, with a view toward discovering how a contemporary American feminist writer envisions a non-gendered society. Specifically, I will examine some of the ways in which Piercy's imaginary culture relates to Harding's discussion of feminist epistemologies that are emerging as a response to sexist, classist and racist policies in science. A visão de Sandra Harding da ciência como uma atividade social, leva-a a propor uma interpretação crítica como um modo de conhecimento particularmente útil para teorizar "os efeitos nas ciências naturais de simbolismo de gênero, estrutura de gênero, e gênero individual." Escolhi o romance de Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time, com o objetivo de descobrir como a escritora feminista contemporânea vê uma sociedade isenta de gênero. Especificamente, examinei algumas formas em que a cultura imaginária de Piercy relaciona-se com a discussão das epistemologias feministas de Harding, que estão emergindo como uma resposta a políticas sexistas, classistas e racistas.

TESTIMONIOS: La necesidad de revelar la pregunta epistemológica en la teoría feminista

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Pérez Bustos
Keyword(s):  
Gloria Anzaldua ◽  
Bell Hooks ◽  
Donna Haraway ◽  
Sandra Harding

<p class="p1">S<span class="s1">oy una femini</span><span class="s2">s</span><span class="s1">ta </span>autodidacta en estudios de ciencia y tecnología. Si bien en mi formación de pregrado y posgrado tuve grandes maestras feministas que aún inspiran mis búsquedas personales y profesionales, sólo devine feminista cuando me topé con la teoría feminista y sus cuestionamientos al conocimiento científico.</p><p class="p1">A diferencia de muchas de mis colegas, nunca me hice parte activa del movimiento; no marché ni fui proselitista. Llegué a saberme feminista cuando logré comprobar que mis preguntas personales sobre mis trayectos profesionales tenían resonancia con las reflexiones que autoras anglosajonas blancas, mestizas y negras, como Sandra Harding (1991; 1993) Donna Haraway (1988; 1996; 2004), Gloria Anzaldúa (1987a; 1987b) Chela Sandoval (1991; 1995) y bell hooks (1984; 1994) venían haciendo desde entrados los años ochenta sobre la objetividad, la transgresión, los puntos medios y ciborg, los lugares desde los que producimos conocimiento y las formas en que éste circula.</p>

The Language of Adam, Epistemic Crisis, and the “Radical Truths” of John Dee

2021 ◽  
pp. 161-173
Author(s):  
Anton V. Karabykov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Culture ◽  
The West ◽  
Traditional Epistemology ◽  
Cultural Status ◽  
Linguistic Material

The life and work of John Dee (1527–1608/9), an English mathematician, eru­dite and occultist, remains an enigma that gives rise to intensive controversies, puzzles scholars, and nourishes imagination of mass culture makers. The aim of the article is to consider a magical practice of the late Dee and a unique narrative recorded in his diaries, in a context of the intellectual situation of that epoch. The analysis is concentrated on a role of those practice and narrative in dialectics of the search for the perfect language which took place in the West in 15th–17th cc. A technical facet of crystallomancy and its standing in the Renaissance culture as well as conditions and motives urging Dee to invest his years in practicing the magic of that kind. A special attention is paid to the course and results of re­vealing of the primordial tongue by the ‘angels’ and to the Adamic myth that accompanied the linguistic material and informed of substance, functions, and historical fate of Ursprache. It is argued that despite its reprehensibility crystal­lomancy took a relatively high cultural status and a wide spreading. Dee became its convinced adept due to a deep inner crisis caused by eschatological anxiety, collapse of traditional epistemology, and discontent with his previous intellectual initiatives. As spirits claimed, the language that they were imparting to him con­nected the protoplasts with God and angels in Eden and served Adam as a per­fect instrument of knowledge and magic. Explaining his lasting failure of com­prehending of the revealed language the spirits persuaded Dee that it was not time yet for activation of its potencies but that it was very near though known only to God. That time had never come in the magician’s life. Nonetheless, glad­ness of (seeming) communication with the ‘angels’ compensated for bitterness of futile expectations.

Feminist Criticisms of Metaphors in Bacon's Philosophy of Science

Philosophy ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
IDDO LANDAU
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Experimental Method ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Francis Bacon ◽  
Early Modern Science ◽  
Sexual Imagery ◽  
Sandra Harding ◽  
Witch Trials ◽  
Scientific Mind ◽  
Evelyn Fox Keller

Francis Bacon has received much attention from feminist philosophers of science. Many of their discussions revolve around his use of sexist, or supposedly sexist, metaphors. According to Sandra Harding, for example, ‘Bacon appealed to rape metaphors to persuade his audience that the experimental method is a good thing.’ Moreover, she claims that ‘when we realize that the mechanistic metaphors that organized early modern science themselves carried sexual meanings, it is clear that these meanings are central to the ways scientists conceptualize both the methods of inquiry and the models of nature’ (ibid.). Carolyn Merchant asserts that witch trials ‘influenced Bacon's philosophy and literary style’. And according to Evelyn Fox Keller, Bacon's explanation of the means by which science will endow humans with power ‘is given metaphorically — through his frequent and graphic use of sexual imagery.’ Fox Keller concludes that Bacon's theory is sexist, but in a more troubled and ambivalent way than Merchant and Harding believe it to be. Thus, she writes that ‘behind the overt insistence on the virility and masculinity of the scientific mind lies a covert assumption and acknowledgment of the dialectical, even hermaphroditic, nature of the “marriage between Mind and Nature.”‘ (p. 40; emphasis added). Likewise, ‘the aggressively male stance of Bacon's scientist could, and perhaps now should, be seen as driven by the need to deny what all scientists, including Bacon, privately have known, namely, that the scientific mind must be, on some level, a hermaphroditic mind.’ (p. 42).

scholarly journals Realism and Knowledge First. Interview with Timothy Williamson

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-204
Author(s):  
I. E. Pris
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Gettier Problem ◽  
Traditional Epistemology ◽  
Timothy Williamson ◽  
Skeptical Problem ◽  
Ill Posed ◽  
The Right ◽  
Metaphysical Realist ◽  
First Interview ◽  
The Gettier Problem

The renowned British philosopher Timothy Williamson talks about his philosophical views and main lines of research. Williamson is a metaphysical realist in a broad sense. Fir him there are true or false answers to questions about all aspects of reality. Classical logic is a universal true theory. Knowledge-first epistemology is an alternative to the traditional belief-first epistemology. The former takes the concept of knowledge as a basic concept, explaining other epistemic concepts, including belief, in its terms, whereas the latter does the opposite. Knowledge, not truth, is the fundamental epistemic good. The Gettier problem and the skeptical problem that arise within traditional epistemology are ill posed and therefore cannot be solved. Hybrid epistemological theories do not satisfy the principles of simplicity and beauty and are refuted by counter-examples. Epistemic contextualism is problematic, and relativism violates the semantics of the phenomena being explained. Knowledge does not entail knowledge about knowledge. Knowledge-how is a kind of knowledge-that. The distinction between a priori and a posteriori is superficial, and there are no analytical truths. The concept of qualia is unhelpful for solving the problems related to consciousness. The so-called “hard problem” of consciousness points to an area of conceptual confusions in which we do not know how to reason properly. Speculative metaphysics is quite a respectable enterprise. But progress in metaphysics is not automatic; it requires the right methodology.

scholarly journals COMPLEMENTARY EDUCATION SPACES OF VENEZUELAN MATHEMATICS EDUCATORS. CASE: VENEZUELAN SCHOOL FOR THE TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS - EVEM

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinthia del Carmen Humbría Burgos ◽  
Fredy Enrique González
Keyword(s):  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social History ◽  
Mathematics Teaching ◽  
Scientific Field ◽  
Epistemology Of Science ◽  
Complementary Education ◽  
Mathematics Educators ◽  
Teaching Of Mathematics ◽  
Teaching Learning

ABSTRACT Qualitative study on mathematical educators complementary education spaces, considering the Venezuelan School for Mathematics Teaching. Referents: Social history (Bernal); Epistemology of Science (Toulmin); Scientific Field (Bourdieu); Systemic vision of Mathematics Education in Venezuela (Beyer). Finding: EFC-EMVs are dialogic, interdisciplinary, generate knowledge about teaching-learning of mathematics, for the Venezuelan educational reality.

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