Plumwood, Val. The Politics of Reason: Towards a Feminist Logic
1993, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 71(4): 436-462
Added by: Franci Mangraviti
Abstract:
The author argues that there is a strong connection between the dualisms that have strengthened and naturalized systematic oppression across history (man/woman, reason/emotion, etc.), and "classical" logic. It is suggested that feminism's response should not be to abandon logic altogether, but rather to focus on the development of alternative, less oppressive forms of rationality, of which relevant logics provide an example.
Comment: The text is a classic of feminist logic, and would thus be an essential reading for any course on the topic. It can also be an appropriate (if advanced) reading for a course on relevant logic, showcasing its potential applications and social relevance. Familiarity with classical logic is a prerequisite. The text can be supplemented with Maureen Eckert & Charlie Donahue's "Towards a Feminist Logic: Val Plumwood's Legacy and Beyond", which provides a sympathetic discussion; and with Gillian Russell's "Logic: A Feminist Approach" for a typical critique. NB: the paper strongly overlaps with Chapter 2 of Plumwood's "Feminism and the Mastery of Nature". The paper is a bit more self-contained, but omits Plumwood's extended critique to postmodernist approaches.