Synopses & Reviews
In Gendered Readings of Change, Clara Fischer develops a unique theory of change by drawing on American philosophy and contemporary feminist thought. Via a select history of ancient Greek and Pragmatist philosophies of change, she argues for a reconstruction of transformation that is inclusive of women's experiences and thought. With wide-ranging analysis, this book addresses ontological, moral, epistemological, and political questions, and includes an insightful exploration of the philosophies of Parmenides, Aristotle, John Dewey, Iris Young, and Jane Addams.
Review
"An original and compelling book. Fischer problematizes canonical theories of change through a feminist-pragmatist approach. She highlights John Dewey's transformation of Aristotle's philosophy to explicate a dynamic sense of self. This leads to a feminist-pragmatist self with the capacity to effect socio-political change. Gendered hierarchies distorting philosophy from its inception are swept away in this model of humans in transaction with their environments. This is a philosophy for our time." - Charlene Haddock Seigfried, Professor Emerita of Philosophy, Purdue University, USA
"In this ambitious book Fischer addresses an important topic - the nature of change - in the contemporary context of feminist politics. Ranging from ancient philosophy to literature to political theory, Fischer develops a pragmatist-feminist account of how selves can initiate and undergo change. This carefully crafted and scholarly work is at the cutting edge of current feminist thought." - Alison Stone, Professor of European Philosophy, Lancaster University, UK
Synopsis
This book develops a unique theory of change by drawing on American philosophy and contemporary feminist thought. Via a select history of ancient Greek and Pragmatist philosophies of change, Fischer argues for a reconstruction of transformation that is inclusive of women's experiences and thought.
About the Author
Clara Fischer is Newton International Fellow at the Gender Institute,
London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. She specializes in
feminist philosophy, pragmatism, and political theory and is the co-editor
of Irish Feminisms: Past, Present and Future.
Table of Contents
PART I: GENEALOGICAL REFLECTIONS ON CHANGE
1. Women, Change, and the Birth of Philosophy
2. Change in Dewey's and Aristotle's Metaphysics
3. Change in Dewey's and Aristotle's Self
PART II: FEMINIST-PRAGMATIST RECONSTRUCTION OF CHANGE
4. The Feminist-Pragmatist Self
5. Democracy and Change as Transaction