Alcoff, Linda Martín. The Problem of Speaking for Others
1991, Cultural Critique 20, pp. 5-32.
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Added by: Olivia Maegaard NielsenAbstract:
As philosophers and social theorists we are authorized by virtue of our academic positions to develop theories that express and encompass the ideas, needs, and goals of others. However, we must begin to ask ourselves whether this is a legitimate authority. Is the discursive practice of speaking for others ever a valid practice, and, if so, what are the criteria for validity? In particular, is it ever valid to speak for others who are unlike me or who are less privileged than me?
Comment: This is a classic all the while being very timely and concerning a topic that will still engage today's students. The text postulates the dilemma of whether and under what conditions it is legitimate to speak for those in less privileged positions than oneself. While not providing one final answer, Alcoff delineates and evaluates different possible approaches and offers four different interrogatory practices for evaluating instances of speaking for others. She illustrates the dillemma by drawing on real life examples. This is a dillemma that concerns many people interested in philosophy and beyond and it can help students reflect on their own philosophical practice in a constructive way. The text would be suitable to read in seminars concerning social (in)justice, feminist philosophy, and social epistemology.
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