Gender, class, and freedom in modern political theory / Nancy J. Hirschmann.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hirschmann, Nancy J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Liberty--Philosophy.

Liberty.

Constructivism (Philosophy).

Sex role--Political aspects.

Sex role.

Women's rights.

Social classes--Political aspects.

Social classes.

Feminist theory.

Physical Description:

x, 342 pages ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Gender, class, & freedom in modern political theory

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2008]

Summary:

"This book is bound to have a wide audience among both political theorists and feminists. One of its strengths is its analysis of the way in which the theories of freedom of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Mill are gendered. Hirschmann argues pointedly with other feminist interpretations of these theories and she provides an unusually sophisticated feminist analysis of the canon."--Marion Smiley, Brandeis University

"This is a great book. Hirschmann's thorough discussion of freedom--though based on a close reading of only five theorists--will, in my opinion, change how we think about freedom. Hirschmann also demonstrates why all good political theory needs to be feminist--not ideologically, but methodologically feminist. Historians of political thought and theorists of freedom and feminism will find much to challenge and provoke their thinking."--Brooke Ackerly, Vanderbilt University

Contents:

Introduction: Gender, Class, and Freedom in Modern Political Theory 1

Negative and Positive Liberty in the Western Canon 2

The Social Construction of Freedom 13

The Gender Politics of Freedom 21

Chapter 1 Thomas Hobbes: Desire and Rationality 29

The Will to Freedom 30

Freedom and Obligation: From Choice to Contract 35

Warrior Women, Invisible Wives 44

Natural Freedom, Civil Contract 49

The Social Construction of Freedom 63

The Containment of Difference 70

Chapter 2 John Locke: Freedom, Reason, and the Education of Citizen-Subjects 79

The Role of Reason 80

Nature versus Nurture: The Role of Education 87

The Gendered Property of Freedom 91

Consent, Choice, and a Two-Tiered Conception of Freedom 99

The Construction of Individuality, the Discipline of Freedom 106

Chapter 3 Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Force, Freedom, and Family 118

Rousseau's Three Kinds of Freedom 119

Politics and the Will 125

Education, Will, and the Social Construction of Citizens 133

Gender, Education, and Virtue 138

Julie, or The Woman as Model Citizen 152

Gender, Passion, and Politics 161

Chapter 4 Immanuel Kant: The Inner World of Freedom 168

Transcendence and Phenomena 169

Ethics and Politics 178

Class, Education, and Social Construction 188

Sexual Constructions 195

Chapter 5 John Stuart Mill: Utility, Democracy, Equality 213

The "Two Mills" 216

Internal and External Realms 223

The Will to Utility 229

Democracy, Class, and Gender 238

The Class of Education 249

Politics, Participation, and Power 260

Conclusion: Rethinking Freedom in the Canon 274

Freedom in Its Two Forms 274

Gender, Class, and Berlin's Typology 281

The Social Construction of Freedom 287.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [317]-330) and index.

ISBN:

9780691129884

0691129886

9780691129891

0691129894

OCLC:

136778020