The Less Noble Sex: Scientific, Religious, and Philosophical Conceptions of Woman's NatureThis book looks at five major beliefs about woman's nature generally accepted by Western philosophers, theologians, and scientists from the classical period to the nineteenth century. These are that: woman is less perfect than man, woman possesses inferior rational capacities, woman has a defective moral sense, man is the primary creative force, and that woman is in need of control. |
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Page 66
The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the two sexes , ” according to
Darwin , “ is shown by man ' s attaining to a higher eminence , in whatever he
takes up , than can woman — whether requiring deep thought , reason , or ...
The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the two sexes , ” according to
Darwin , “ is shown by man ' s attaining to a higher eminence , in whatever he
takes up , than can woman — whether requiring deep thought , reason , or ...
Page 73
We are therefore permitted to suppose that the relatively small size of the female
brain depends in part upon her physical inferiority and in part upon her
intellectual inferiority . " 94 Other measurements were numerous and imaginative
...
We are therefore permitted to suppose that the relatively small size of the female
brain depends in part upon her physical inferiority and in part upon her
intellectual inferiority . " 94 Other measurements were numerous and imaginative
...
Page 76
112 These theorists insisted that all intellectual endeavors must be suspended
during menstruation , yet another proof of the impossibility of the intellectual
equality of woman and man . “ In intellectual labour , man has surpassed , does
now ...
112 These theorists insisted that all intellectual endeavors must be suspended
during menstruation , yet another proof of the impossibility of the intellectual
equality of woman and man . “ In intellectual labour , man has surpassed , does
now ...
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The less noble sex: scientific, religious, and philosophical conceptions of woman's nature
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictTuana, a professor of the history of ideas, discusses classical through late 19th-century ideas of women, showing how scientific views and religious or philosophical views have influenced and ... Read full review
Contents
Between Man and Animal | 1 |
The Weaker Vessel | 51 |
The Hysteria of Woman | 93 |
Copyright | |
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abilities accepted According alchemical alchemists animal argued Aristotle Aristotle's attempt become believed biology birth blood body brain cause century child Christian claimed classical complex conception concerning concluded contained continued created creation creative defect desires differences discussion divine earth emotions energy equal evolution example existence explained fact faculties father female force Genesis given gives gods greater heat human husband hysteria Ibid important individual inferior influence insisted intellectual lack less lines male man's mental metaphor metaphysical mind moral mother myth nature nineteenth-century offered organs original passions perfect Philo philosophers physical placed Plato position possess principle produced provides race rational reason reproduction result role rule scientific scientists seed seen semen sense sexual skull social soul stage superior theorists theory thought tradition turn universe uterus woman woman's nature womb women Zeus