This Element examines the roles and activities of women and their contributions to the Platonic tradition from Plato's time-fourth century BCE- through to the sixth century CE. Drawing on recent research on female agency, gender studies and the connections between ancient philosophy and religious traditions, this Element re-assesses the multi-faceted roles of women within Platonism. Methodologically, any assessment of ancient women philosophers must consider the contexts of the production, transmission and (partial) survival of the range of evidence attesting to their activities, and the historical minimisation or elision of women's intellectual contributions within the western philosophical tradition, science and the academy. As such, this Element argues that the existing evidence allows us to glimpse a much wider pattern of female philosophical and intellectual activity within the Platonic tradition and that we should be careful not to underestimate or minimise the significance of ancient women within the history of Platonism.
By:
Crystal Addey (University College Cork) Imprint: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom Weight: 152g ISBN:9781009158909 ISBN 10: 1009158902 Series:Elements on Women in the History of Philosophy Pages: 96 Publication Date:21 August 2025 Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
