Hegel and Feminist Social Criticism

Jeffrey A. Gauthier is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Portland.

"The strength of this book lies in the distinctive conjunction of Hegelianism and feminism. It partakes of and contributes to the most current wave of Hegel scholarship by not simply asking what Hegel himself said about women or gender, but rather asking the far more useful and interesting question of what Hegelianism might contribute to feminist theory, aside from or even despite Hegel's own intentions." — Harry Brod, author of Hegel's Philosophy of Politics: Idealism, Identity, and Modernity"The author generates an unconventional, interesting, and powerful interpretation of Hegel on morality and moral agency in a way that allows him to rethink and to justify two important moves or needs of feminism: the need to make universal criticisms despite a sense that those universals are historically relative, and the need to ground difference without regressing to the feminine characteristics argument that feeds into the hands of conservatives." — Peter G. Stillman, editor of Hegel's Philosophy of Spirit

• Acknowledgments Notes on Citations Introduction Part One: EMERGENT AGENCY AND NORMATIVITY IN HEGEL 1. Historically Emergent Agency: Antigone and Creon 2. Hegel's Critique of "Emptiness:" Politicizing the Moral Point of View 3. Hegel's Phenomenology and Impartial Justification: Toward a Historical Realism in Ethics Part Two: FEMINIST JUSTICE AND HISTORICAL REALISM 4. Consciousness-Raising and Political Critique: Reconceptualizing Universality 5. Ignorance, Oppression, and Blame: Political Critique and Individual Reproach 6. Feminist Ethics and Critiques of Rationality Part Three: AGENCY, VICTIMIZATION, AND DIFFERENCE 7. Slaves without Fear: Hegel and the Feminism of Simone de Beauvoir 8. Justice, Recognition, and the Feminine Epilogue Notes References Index