Aktywnośc filozoficzna kobiet w Grecji okresu klasycznego (WOMEN'S PHILOSOPHICAL ACTIVITY IN CLASSICAL GREECE)

Abstract

The authors discuss in this paper the matter of philosophical activity of women in classical Greece. Hardly ever can characters of women philosophers be found in textbooks concerning history of ancient philosophy. This is relevant to the social situation in Greece of that time, where women existed on the margins of public life. To show this, they refer to Aristotle's work, as much as to non-philosophical sources. In spite of the fact that women's activity was reduced to the private sphere, a number of woman philosophers appear in the history of Greek thought. Circumstances which enabled them to take up activity on this ground were varied. Some of the women were members of philosophical schools, in case of others it seems that a particular personal situation played a key role, as they were either daughters or wives of philosophers. Regardless of the reasons, taking up philosophical activity must have required great courage and determination. Without any doubt, women philosophers must have been uncommon characters and their development on this ground can be seen as overcoming the social role imposed on them