Feminist Interpretations of Mary Astell

In Feminist Interpretations of Mary Astell, Alice Sowaal and Penny Weiss present a diverse collection of essays on early modern English writer and rhetorician Mary Astell. Often referred to as a proto-feminist, Astell has only recently come to be regarded as a serious figure in the history of feminism. The nature and extent of Astell’s feminism continue to be a matter of debate, as feminists struggle to reconcile Astell’s piety, monarchist politics, and conformity to the convention of the subordination of women to men in marriage with her outspoken advocacy for the education and autonomy of women. Nonetheless, Astell is remembered for her ability to effectively debate and negotiate the place of women in society.

This volume contributes to our understanding of Astell’s intellectual legacy, placing her ideas not only in a feminist context, but also in a historical and philosophical one. Students and scholars of both feminist philosophy and Mary Astell will be rewarded by the broad range of scholarship presented here.

Aside from the editors, the contributors are Kathleen A. Ahearn, Jacqueline Broad, Karen Detlefsen, Susan Paterson Glover, Marcy P. Lascano, Elisabeth Hedrick Moser, Christine Mason Sutherland, and Nancy Tuana.

Alice Sowaal Associate Professor of Philosophy at San Francisco State University.

Penny A. Weiss Professor of Political Science at Saint Louis University.