Seminar: Special Topics in Philosophy (410-0-3)

Topic

Feminist Philosophy of Science

Instructors

Morgan Thompson

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-440: Tues 3:00PM - 5:50PM

Overview of class

Feminism and philosophy of science have been entangled since at least the 1980s, when prominent feminist scholars turned a critical eye on traditional concepts of objectivity and scientific method. The relation between feminism and science is complex as women have traditionally been excluded from scientific institutions and activities or relegated to subordinate roles. The range of feminist responses to science engages fundamental philosophical questions: How does the ideal of knowledge relate to actual human practices? Is objective scientific knowledge possible? How do judgments about the plausibility of a theory interact with our practices of evidence collection? Does including the public in scientific research produce better knowledge?

We will cover three major feminist views on scientific knowledge: feminist empiricism, standpoint theory, and feminist postmodernism. Then we will focus our analysis on contemporary debates concerning sex, fertility, and gendered and raced bodies in biology and medicine.

Class Materials (Required)

All class materials will be available on Canvas at NO cost to the student.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Graduate Students.