Kant and Women

Abstract

Kant's conception of women is complex. Although he struggles to bring his considered view of women into focus, a sympathetic reading shows it not to be anti-feminist and to contain important arguments regarding human nature. Kant believes the traditional male-female distinction is unlikely to disappear, but he never proposes the traditional gender ideal as the moral ideal; he rejects the idea that such considerations of philosophical anthropology can set the framework for morality. This is also why his moral works clarifies that all citizens, including women have the right, and should be encouraged to strive towards an active condition.

It's Not about Race: Good Wars, Bad Wars, and the Origins of Kant's Anti-Colonialism

“…Kant's ability to communicate this was complicated by the close ties between the Prussian rulers and the House of Hanover and the wartime atmosphere. Kant's intervention can be understood as a plea to European monarchs to retreat from their colonial entanglements and allow for France's repub- 22 There is disagreement in this literature; some commentators claim that Kant's views on women do not impact his moral ideals or that other places in Kant's works grant women rational moral agency (Mikkola 2011;Varden 2015). lican constitution to progress and lead Europe toward peace.…”

“… 22 There is disagreement in this literature; some commentators claim that Kant's views on women do not impact his moral ideals or that other places in Kant's works grant women rational moral agency (Mikkola 2011; Varden 2015). …”

Kant on Sex. Reconsidered. -- A Kantian account of sexuality: sexual love, sexual identity, and sexual orientation

“…In the previous century, we saw this liberation with regard to historically common prejudices with women; 26 in this century, we are hopefully seeing the beginning of a similar development with regard to the flourishing of LGBTIQIA identities and orientations. 26 For an interpretation of this point in relation to women, see Varden (2015).…”

“…This SEP entry also assumes the common interpretation of the Kantian conception of the self that my paper here seeks to challenge. For an overview over Kantian feminist writings, see my "Kant's Moral Theory and Feminist Ethics: Women, Embodiment, Care Relations, and Systemic Injustice" (Varden 2018). 5 For a Kantian example, see Allais (2008aAllais ( , 2008bAllais ( , 2008cAllais ( , 2013.…”

Freedom and poverty in the Kantian state

“…See here Holtman, : 96–97 and 1999: 45; Lanoix, : 121–125; Varden, : 271, 275 and : 25–26; Schapiro, : 719–721; and Weinrib, . Williams, : 144–149, 178–182 and Ellis, : 85–91 incorporate aspects of both the critical and exculpatory interpretations.…”