Description
Book SynopsisPhilosophy is in its fourth millennium but this collection is the first of its kind. Twelve contemporary women of color who are American academic philosophers consider the methods and subjects of the discipline from perspectives partly informed by their experiences as African American, Asian American, Latina, Mixed Race and Native American.
Trade Review"In this unique collection, Naomi Zack invites the twelve members of this select group of women of color to reflect on what they and their colleagues do, as philosophers. Their original and sometimes ground-breaking contributions critique traditional academic philosophy, apply traditional philosophical methods to topics of social relevance hitherto ignored by philosophers, and interpret traditional philosophy in ways that suggest new areas of study."
Alison M. Jaggar, University of Colorado at Boulder "This is a splendid book. It will be important to research and teaching in feminist philosophy, philosophy of race, and other women's studies and race courses." Sandra Harding, University of California, Los Angeles
"The growing recognition of the important contributions of women philosophers of color, past and present, is a sign that there may still be hope for philosophers to transcend some of their prejudices. Blackwell has offered the profession a chance by publishing this pioneering volume that I am sure will stimulate research on the work of women philosophers included and those who I am sure will appear in subsequent volumes influenced by this important work. It will be a valuable addition to any library and certainly class discussions of contemporary engagements with ideas." Lewis R. Gordon, Brown University and the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica
Table of ContentsThe Contributors vii
Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction 1
Part 1 Critique 23
1 “Discredited Knowledge” in the Nonfiction of Toni Morrison 25
Joy James
2 Cultural Alterity: Cross-cultural Communications and Feminist Theory in North-South Contexts 44
Ofelia Schutte
3 Exploring the Sources of western Thought 69
V. F. Cordova
4 General Introduction to the Project: The Enterprise of Socratic Metaethics 91
Adrian M. S. Piper
Part 2 Activism and Application 133
5 Interview with Angela Y. Davis 135
George Yancy
6 That Alchemical Bering Strait Theory! Or Introducing America’s Indigenous Sovereign Nations Worldviews to Informal Logic Courses 152
Anne Schulherr Waters
7 The Libertarian Role Model and the Burden of Uplifting the Race 168
Barbara Hall
8 Interracial Marriage: Folk Ethics in Contemporary Philosophy 182
Anita L. Allen
Part 3 New Directions 207
9 Asian Women: Invisibility, Locations, and Claims to Philosophy 209
Yoko Arisaka
10 On Judging Epistemic Credibility: Is Social Identity Relevant? 235
Linda Martin Alcoff
11 Cognitive Science and the Quest for a Theory of Properties 263
Dasiea Cavers-Huff
12 Descartes’ Realist Awake-Asleep Distinction and Naturalism 280
Naomi Zack
Select Bibliography 303
Index 311
