Lecture 4: Descartes, Enlightenment, Poullain, Mary Astell

In the 17th century, what were beliefs of men being naturally hot, and women cold?

Still debated if women think differently from men → if 2 brains think oppositely, one is assumed male, the other female

• Hot: men naturally courageous, sincere, merciful, just, faithful, patient, modest

• Cold: women naturally weak, fearful, unfaithful, cruel, talkative

What is Renes Descartes’ radical doubt?

If there’s anything thats not guaranteed or 100% true, it can be doubted!

• By doubting everything & seeking certainty, can find a way to counter prejudices against women

• Mind has no sex → build on Descartes radical doubt

How is Descartes philosophy an inspiration and what was it used for?

Inspiration to argue for equality

• Cartesianism philosophy began dominating

• People following Descartes philosophy & taught all kinds of fields (ethics, reality, medicine)

What is Descartes’ Dualism?

The idea that the human mind (consciousness) and the human body are 2 separate substances

• mind can exist independently of the body

Who is Francois Poullain and what methods did he use?

Published 3 works on equality of the sexes → using Descartes method to argue education, political autonomy for women

• Dedicated to finding genuine truth

• Use of Descartes’ dualism

• Descartes was more careful & less outward

How did Poullain use doubt to eliminate prejudice? (42 rules)

Created 42 rules for truth

1. Making the choice/judgement if a prejudice is true/false → push back against prejudices that are not solid/true

2. Make judgements on what is certainly true → dominant prejudices of the time were uncertain & could be doubted!

What does Poullain say about internalized beliefs that stem from soceity?

Beliefs of the time are internalized & not naturally true → belief by people who prejudices were about made it appear natural

• Prejudices stem from society: built off the creation of power

• Have self-knowledge & doubt prejudices

• Representation matters → prejudice is internalized & based on what you see around you

What are Poullain’s thoughts on education, understanding, and role of free will?

• You believe untrue things about yourself → adopt methodological thinking: why do you think this?

• Liberation lies in education & equal rights/opportunity → you can free yourself simply by doubt

• Women are gatekept from rational thought & internalize prejudice due to lack of education!

Who is Mary Astell?

Dualist & follower of Descartes

• her aspect of equality is built on the existence of God

God created 4 beings: minds, bodies, mind-body union, particles that compose bodies

• Mind-body has a union but are still distinct from eachother

What is Mary Astell’s: A serious proposal?

6 Rules for reflection for women

• Believes prejudices are internalized → gave rules to women on how to properly think

• use rational thinking to find truth

Says women are driven by passions (from having a body) & women are just as capable of self control

• passions can be trained

• cure is education

• women find the truth through education to disbelieve untrue prejudices