Philosophers

Like their predecessors, and like their male counterparts, most women philosophers of the 20th century have significant expertise in several specialities. Moreover, their work represents the gamut of 20th century philosophy's interests in moral pragmatism, logical positivism, philosophy of mathematics, of psychology, and of mind. Their writings include feminist philosophy, classical moral theory reevaluated in light of Kant, Mill, and the 19th century feminist and abolitionist movements, and issues in logic and perception.

This book focuses on some English-speaking women philosophers who have been major actors since the 20th century in the field of practical philosophy, namely political and social philosophy, feminist approaches to philosophy, moral psychology, the theory of action and ethics. The book explores topics linked to the main aspects of the thought of those philosophers, i.e. Elizabeth Anscombe, Judith Butler, Philippa Foot, Nancy Fraser, Carol Gilligan and Martha Nussbaum. Six women French commentators have written a chapter on each of those women anglo-american philosophers, creating a dialogue as they think with them, elaborating their own positions in their respective fields.

With a wealth of anecdote Dorothy Emmet looks back on the philosophers who made a personal impact on her. She brings to life the Oxford of the 1920s, and writes particularly about H.A. Pritchard and R.G. Collingwood. She knew A.N. Whitehead and Samuel Alexander, and remembers philosophers who struggled with political dilemmas when a number of intellectuals were turning to Marxism. Describing the post-war period she recalls R.B. Braithwaite, Michael Polanyi, Alasdair MacIntyre and others. Her personal portraits will interest a wide readership, as well as making essential reading for professional philosophers.