Words Of Power A Feminist Reading Of The History Of Logic | Philosophy

Originally published in 1990. A common complaint of philosophers and men in general has been that women are illogical. On the other hand rationality defined as the ability to follow logical argument is often claimed to be a defining characteristic of man. Andrea Nye undermines assumptions such as: logic is unitary logic is independent of concrete human relations logic transcends historical circumstances as well as gender. In a series of studies of the logics of historical figures Parmenides Plato Aristotle Zeno Abelard Ockham and Frege she traces the changing interrelationships between logical innovation and oppressive speech strategies showing that logic is not transcendent truth but abstract forms of language spoken by men whether Greek ruling citizens imperial administrators church officials or scientists. She relates logical techniques such as logical division syllogisms and truth functions to ways in which those with power speak to and about those subject to them. She shows in the specific historical settings of Ancient and Hellenistic Greece medieval Europe and Germany between the World Wars how logicians reworked language so that dialogue and reciprocity are impossible and one speaker is forced to accept the words of another. In the personal as well as confrontative style of her readings Nye points the way to another power in the words of women that might break into and challenge rational discourses that have structured Western thought and practice. |Words of Power A Feminist Reading of the History of Logic | Philosophy