Women Philosophers of the Early Modern Period

Margaret Atherton has written and compiled an excellent introduction to the work of a number of women philosphers of the 17th and 18th centuries. The book contains a biographical introduction, followed with selections from one of the works of seven women philosophers: Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, Margaret Cavendish, Anne Viscountess Conway, Damaria Cudworth (Lady Masham), Mary Astell, Catherine Trotter Cockburn, and Lady Mary Shepherd. Atherton's own comments are frequently insightful: "Perhaps it is also unusual that only one of these women, Catherine Trotter Cockburn, was the mother of a large family. The others were either childless or had only one child." The book contains numerous historical "nuggets," as well. For example, Atherton notes that "Descartes' "Passions of the Soul" is said to derive from his conversations with Elisabeth (of Bohemia), and he thought sufficiently well of her to dedicate his magnum opus, René Descartes: Principles of Philosophy: Translation with Explanatory Notes (Synthese Historical Library), to her." She notes that Leibniz also wrote that "My philosophical views approach somewhat closely those of the late Countess of Conway." This is an excellent selection and introduction to this group of women philosophers.