In Spite of Plato: A Feminist Rewriting of Ancient PhilosophyThis pathbreaking work pursues two interwoven themes. Firstly, it engages in a deconstruction of Ancient philosopher's texts--mainly from Plato, but also from Homer and Parmenides--in order to free four Greek female figures from the patriarchal discourse which for centuries had imprisoned them in a particular role. Secondly, it attempts to construct a symbolic female order, reinterpreting these figures from a new perspective. Building on the theory of sexual difference, Cavarero shows that death is the central category on which the whole edifice of traditional philosophy is based. By contrast, the category of birth provides the thread with which new concepts of feminist criticism can be woven together to establish a fresh way of thinking. |
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In Spite of Plato: A Feminist Rewriting of Ancient Philosophy Adriana Cavarero No preview available - 1995 |
In Spite of Plato: A Feminist Reading of Ancient Philosophy Adriana Cavarero No preview available - 1995 |
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according allows already ancient animal appearance beauty becomes beginning belongs birth body born carries Cavarero central child claims comes completely concept constitutes context culture daughter death definitive Demeter desire difference Diotima discourse divine element eternal existence experience fact female feminine feminist figure function gaze gender giving Greek hand human idea immortality indicate individual infinite Italy kind language living logic longer look male manifest marked masculine maternal power matricide meaning measure metaphysical mind misogyny mortal mother myth nature not-being nothingness Odysseus origin Parmenides patriarchal Penelope Penelope's person perspective philosophical Plato's play political position possible precisely present pure reality realm reproductive role rooted seems sense separate sexual difference simply Socrates soul space speak species symbolic order term things thought tion tradition true truth turns universal untying weaving whole woman women