Janet Cameron's Blog: janetcameronwriting.blogspot.com
October 23, 2020
FREE FOR 5 DAYS - ICONIC WOMEN POETS
Iconic Women Poets - Their Trials, Their Triumphs, Their Pain.
This will be available FREE OF CHARGE in ebook format from tomorrow 24 October, to 28 October inclusive.
If you love poetry, feminism and history, you will enjoy it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
This will be available FREE OF CHARGE in ebook format from tomorrow 24 October, to 28 October inclusive.
If you love poetry, feminism and history, you will enjoy it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
December 29, 2019
Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers - Reviews
My book is selling and I really hope it will continue. In my heart I know I have put an enormous amount into it.
Here are two of my most recent reviews, both by professional reviewers/editors. It's available in Kindle an paperback.
Nsitch
5.0 out of 5 stars Shining a light on Female philosophers throughout the ages
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 December 2019
Format: Paperback
Women are frequently ignored or neglected in the field of Philosophy, but in Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers, Janet Cameron does an exemplary job in redressing the balance. Selecting just eighteen remarkable women to concentrate on must have been a hard task in itself, but Janet’s subject matter does not disappoint. Each of her Female Philosophers represents a stage in the journey of female philosophy, with the author concentrating her concise and informative narrative on their particular intellectual preoccupations rather than trying to produce a general biography. The philosophies and philosophers discussed range from early to modern feminist ideas to more wide-ranging concerns, including race, good and evil and the morality of science. Well researched and compellingly written, Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers is essential reading for anyone seeking illumination on this aspect of women’s history — and women's role in philosophy.
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Zoe King
5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable introduction.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
As the author says in her opening salvo, why a book on ‘women’ philosophers? The answer she goes on to tell us is that women are woefully neglected in general introductory philosophy books. In an attempt to restore the balance, Janet Cameron here features 18 women who have, each in their own way, contributed to the genre over the years. She cites Hegel and other male commentators who have remarked upon the omission, not always kindly, and goes on to tell us briefly and concisely about women we should know about, and should celebrate ranging from 5th century mathematician Hypatia, through later feminists such as Simone de Beauvoir and Mary Wollstonecraft, and on to more modern commentators such as Iris Murdoch.
In Chapter 1, the author marries her twin passions of poetry and philosophy to take a look at Hypatia, citing the work of American poet Adrienne Rich. In Diving into the Wreck, Rich mirrors the lift and obscene death of Hypatia, who so threatened the status quo that she was allegedly killed by having oyster shells hurled at her.
In chapter 2, we find 10th-century Japanese feminist, Murasaki Shikibu, reputed to be the world’s first novelist. Little is known about her life, but Cameron explores what little we do know.
Following chapters take us through better-known names such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Ada Lovelace, Ayn Rand, Simone de Beauvoir, and up to the present day, with a look at Iris Murdoch, Mary Warnock, Mary Midgley, and the oft beleaguered Mary Beard.
All in all, the book builds into an invaluable introduction to these wonderful women and will undoubtedly fire the imagination and the desire to learn more about all of them.
Read more
One person found this helpful
Helpful
Comment Report abuse
Here are two of my most recent reviews, both by professional reviewers/editors. It's available in Kindle an paperback.
Nsitch
5.0 out of 5 stars Shining a light on Female philosophers throughout the ages
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 December 2019
Format: Paperback
Women are frequently ignored or neglected in the field of Philosophy, but in Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers, Janet Cameron does an exemplary job in redressing the balance. Selecting just eighteen remarkable women to concentrate on must have been a hard task in itself, but Janet’s subject matter does not disappoint. Each of her Female Philosophers represents a stage in the journey of female philosophy, with the author concentrating her concise and informative narrative on their particular intellectual preoccupations rather than trying to produce a general biography. The philosophies and philosophers discussed range from early to modern feminist ideas to more wide-ranging concerns, including race, good and evil and the morality of science. Well researched and compellingly written, Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers is essential reading for anyone seeking illumination on this aspect of women’s history — and women's role in philosophy.
Helpful
Comment Report abuse
See all reviews from the United Kingdom
Zoe King
5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable introduction.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
As the author says in her opening salvo, why a book on ‘women’ philosophers? The answer she goes on to tell us is that women are woefully neglected in general introductory philosophy books. In an attempt to restore the balance, Janet Cameron here features 18 women who have, each in their own way, contributed to the genre over the years. She cites Hegel and other male commentators who have remarked upon the omission, not always kindly, and goes on to tell us briefly and concisely about women we should know about, and should celebrate ranging from 5th century mathematician Hypatia, through later feminists such as Simone de Beauvoir and Mary Wollstonecraft, and on to more modern commentators such as Iris Murdoch.
In Chapter 1, the author marries her twin passions of poetry and philosophy to take a look at Hypatia, citing the work of American poet Adrienne Rich. In Diving into the Wreck, Rich mirrors the lift and obscene death of Hypatia, who so threatened the status quo that she was allegedly killed by having oyster shells hurled at her.
In chapter 2, we find 10th-century Japanese feminist, Murasaki Shikibu, reputed to be the world’s first novelist. Little is known about her life, but Cameron explores what little we do know.
Following chapters take us through better-known names such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Ada Lovelace, Ayn Rand, Simone de Beauvoir, and up to the present day, with a look at Iris Murdoch, Mary Warnock, Mary Midgley, and the oft beleaguered Mary Beard.
All in all, the book builds into an invaluable introduction to these wonderful women and will undoubtedly fire the imagination and the desire to learn more about all of them.
Read more
One person found this helpful
Helpful
Comment Report abuse
December 2, 2019
Would you kill one person to save five?
The Trolley Problem - What would YOU do?
Philippa Foot devised the famous moral paradox of The Trolley Problem. Here is a brief summary of the main points, presented by Josh Clark in his article “How the Trolley Problem Works.”:
There is a runaway trolley on a railways track, heading straight for five people, who will be killed. You are near a lever, and you can pull it to divert the trolley and switching the trolley to a different track. But on this other track there is a man who will be killed if you take this action.
Would you pull the lever and sacrifice one to save five?
This problem is examined in the chapter about Philippa Foot in EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHIILOSOPHERS.
...SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Philippa Foot devised the famous moral paradox of The Trolley Problem. Here is a brief summary of the main points, presented by Josh Clark in his article “How the Trolley Problem Works.”:
There is a runaway trolley on a railways track, heading straight for five people, who will be killed. You are near a lever, and you can pull it to divert the trolley and switching the trolley to a different track. But on this other track there is a man who will be killed if you take this action.
Would you pull the lever and sacrifice one to save five?
This problem is examined in the chapter about Philippa Foot in EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHIILOSOPHERS.
...SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
November 26, 2019
Interview About My EIGHTEEN WOMEN
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
I like Pinterest, as it's fun to create pins and categorise them. The problem is that the first edition of my EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS (published on Smashwords as FIFTEEN WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS) did well on Pinterest, and had around 1.3k hits, and plenty of shares and comments. My publisher, the online educational site, Decoded Everything, folded, and my book disappeared so I needed to republlish it myself which has been a tough learning curve. It has also been a little bit painful closing down the pins displaying that first edition, and sacrificing the 1.3k hits to give the new book a chance. I hope it will soon catch up, as it's beeen revised and has three more brilliant women philosophers. It's my baby, the result of lots of research and reflection and inspiring content, and I hope people will continue to buy it.
What is your favourite review for Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers?
I've been lucky enough to get a professional book reviewer, Zoe King, to read and rate the book. Zoe gave it 5 stars (Hooray) and here is her review:
"As the author says in her opening salvo, why a book on ‘women’ philosophers? The answer she goes on to tell us is that women are woefully neglected in general introductory philosophy books. In an attempt to restore the balance, Janet Cameron here features 18 women who have, each in their own way, contributed to the genre over the years. She cites Hegel and other male commentators who have remarked upon the omission, not always in a supportive manner, and goes on to tell us briefly and concisely about women we should know about, and should celebrate ranging from 5 th century mathematician Hypatia, through later feminists.
In Chapter 1, the author marries her twin passions of poetry and philosophy to take a look at Hypatia, citing the work of American poet Adrienne Rich. In Diving into the Wreck, Rich mirrors the lift and obscene death of Hypatia, who so threatened the status quo that she was allegedly killed by having oyster shells hurled at her. In chapter 2, we find 10th century Japanese feminist, Murasaki Shikibu, reputed to be the world’s first woman novelist. Little is known about her life, but Cameron explores what little we do know.
Following chapters take us through better known names such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Ada Lovelace, Ayn Rand, Simone de Beauvoir, and up to the present day, with a look at Iris Murdoch, Mary Warnock, Mary Midgley, and the oft beleaguered Mary Beard. All in all, the book builds into an invaluable introduction to these wonderful women and will undoubtedly fire the imagination and the desire to learn more.
Read more of this interview.
I like Pinterest, as it's fun to create pins and categorise them. The problem is that the first edition of my EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS (published on Smashwords as FIFTEEN WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS) did well on Pinterest, and had around 1.3k hits, and plenty of shares and comments. My publisher, the online educational site, Decoded Everything, folded, and my book disappeared so I needed to republlish it myself which has been a tough learning curve. It has also been a little bit painful closing down the pins displaying that first edition, and sacrificing the 1.3k hits to give the new book a chance. I hope it will soon catch up, as it's beeen revised and has three more brilliant women philosophers. It's my baby, the result of lots of research and reflection and inspiring content, and I hope people will continue to buy it.
What is your favourite review for Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers?
I've been lucky enough to get a professional book reviewer, Zoe King, to read and rate the book. Zoe gave it 5 stars (Hooray) and here is her review:
"As the author says in her opening salvo, why a book on ‘women’ philosophers? The answer she goes on to tell us is that women are woefully neglected in general introductory philosophy books. In an attempt to restore the balance, Janet Cameron here features 18 women who have, each in their own way, contributed to the genre over the years. She cites Hegel and other male commentators who have remarked upon the omission, not always in a supportive manner, and goes on to tell us briefly and concisely about women we should know about, and should celebrate ranging from 5 th century mathematician Hypatia, through later feminists.
In Chapter 1, the author marries her twin passions of poetry and philosophy to take a look at Hypatia, citing the work of American poet Adrienne Rich. In Diving into the Wreck, Rich mirrors the lift and obscene death of Hypatia, who so threatened the status quo that she was allegedly killed by having oyster shells hurled at her. In chapter 2, we find 10th century Japanese feminist, Murasaki Shikibu, reputed to be the world’s first woman novelist. Little is known about her life, but Cameron explores what little we do know.
Following chapters take us through better known names such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Ada Lovelace, Ayn Rand, Simone de Beauvoir, and up to the present day, with a look at Iris Murdoch, Mary Warnock, Mary Midgley, and the oft beleaguered Mary Beard. All in all, the book builds into an invaluable introduction to these wonderful women and will undoubtedly fire the imagination and the desire to learn more.
Read more of this interview.
Iconic Women Poets
November 21 at 10:25 PM ·
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iconic-Women...
In 1904, a Danish philologist, Otto Jesperson (1860-1943) wrote the following passage:
“There is one expression that continually comes to my mind whenever I think of the English language and compare it with others: it seems to be positively and expressly masculine, it is the language of a grown-up man and has very little childish or feminine about it…”
Acclaimed poet Theodore Roethke was highly specific in his accusations towards female poets, and these are some of his charges:
“…lack of range in subject matter, in emotional tone – and lack of a sense of humour… the embroidering of trivial themes; a concern with the mere surfaces of life… hiding from the real agonies of the spirit… stamping a tiny foot against God… caterwauling…”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iconic-Women...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iconic-Women...
In 1904, a Danish philologist, Otto Jesperson (1860-1943) wrote the following passage:
“There is one expression that continually comes to my mind whenever I think of the English language and compare it with others: it seems to be positively and expressly masculine, it is the language of a grown-up man and has very little childish or feminine about it…”
Acclaimed poet Theodore Roethke was highly specific in his accusations towards female poets, and these are some of his charges:
“…lack of range in subject matter, in emotional tone – and lack of a sense of humour… the embroidering of trivial themes; a concern with the mere surfaces of life… hiding from the real agonies of the spirit… stamping a tiny foot against God… caterwauling…”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iconic-Women...
October 29, 2019
USEFUL FOR WORKSHOPS
I've learned recently that groups are beginning to discover my EIGHTEEN AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSOPHERS to be a useful basic guide for feminist philosophy sessions. As there are eighteen chapters, the book provides material for an equivalent number of sessions, with no fiddly photocopyng for the facilitator if each student has a book.
Students or members can be encouraged to do some additional research, and its easy enough to set out questions around each chapter to inspire lively debate.
Philosophy debates are tremendous fun and very educational. It's so enriching to know more about the great women who have made our own lives a little easier. I wish my own book had been available to me when I started running my philosophy sessions six years ago in Brighton! That, of course, is a rhetorical statement :-) but all the same, it's true.
Students or members can be encouraged to do some additional research, and its easy enough to set out questions around each chapter to inspire lively debate.
Philosophy debates are tremendous fun and very educational. It's so enriching to know more about the great women who have made our own lives a little easier. I wish my own book had been available to me when I started running my philosophy sessions six years ago in Brighton! That, of course, is a rhetorical statement :-) but all the same, it's true.
September 24, 2019
Iconic Women Poets
The more I learn about poets, especially women poets and their lives, the more I am impressed by their sheer resourcefulness and determination.
My book "Iconic Women Poets" tells not only the story of these women's lives, but also creates a framework for the feminist movement (also explored in my "Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers")
I have published the books as two distinct and separate volumes, but I wonder if it would be possible to combine them. The chapters could go in date order, and I could combine the texts before, after and in between.
After all, the subjects cross over like Venn circles, there is so much philosophy in poetry especially. The most worrying thing is that people might buy the book only to find they had already bought half of it in its initial incarnation.
Great Women Thinkers sounds like a good title. Am I breaking any rules? Would Amazon think it acceptable? How can I make sure it's clear that it's a collection of two former books? My philosophers are a lot of other things besides philosophers and likewise the poets, but they are all remarkable women, so no reason they couldn't be combined in date of birth order, altogether.
Hmm. Food for thought. I need advice.
My book "Iconic Women Poets" tells not only the story of these women's lives, but also creates a framework for the feminist movement (also explored in my "Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers")
I have published the books as two distinct and separate volumes, but I wonder if it would be possible to combine them. The chapters could go in date order, and I could combine the texts before, after and in between.
After all, the subjects cross over like Venn circles, there is so much philosophy in poetry especially. The most worrying thing is that people might buy the book only to find they had already bought half of it in its initial incarnation.
Great Women Thinkers sounds like a good title. Am I breaking any rules? Would Amazon think it acceptable? How can I make sure it's clear that it's a collection of two former books? My philosophers are a lot of other things besides philosophers and likewise the poets, but they are all remarkable women, so no reason they couldn't be combined in date of birth order, altogether.
Hmm. Food for thought. I need advice.
September 10, 2019
The Trouble with Trolleyology and Fatism
A weird week this week.
What do YOU think about this new trolleyology dilemma?
I joined a meeting with some budding philosophers to tell them something about my research relating to women phiilosophers, from ancient times to the present day. (Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers)
It should have been fun. I planned a section on the growth of feminism through its famous "three waves" and, for a lively group discussion, I picked Philippa Foot's "Trolley Problem" where you may choose to divert a runaway trolley from its track towards one person, to save five vulnerable people on the other track.
There have been a few variants on Philippa Foot's work to look at other moral aspects presented by the problem. This includes the famous variant, The Fat Man.
The Fat Man version supposes that, instead of diverting the trolley with a lever, you push a fat man in front of it to stop it. Many people are willing to pull the lever to divert the trolley onto the other track, but they wouldn't directly kill the fat man by pushing him onto the track.
The issue with the fat man seemed to be a sticking point with the group, who were familiar with the variant. They had already read my book and discussed it, but wanted to pursue it further.
The first thing I was told was I should "lose the fat man." One member of the group was particularly angry that I should fat-shame this anonymous and representational overweight person.
Phew! What options do I have?
The Fat Man scenario was developed by from Philippa Foot's original version by other philosophers during a time when "fat" was used as an adjective.
Now it seems I am required to change "fat" to maybe, "large" in my book. Really?.
This seems patronising to say the least, as it denies the historical context of the dilemma, and the writing of Philippa Foot and other philosophers, such as Judith Jarvis Thomson, who helped developed the several variants of the problem including The Fat Man.
But, to change the established and accepted content of this text is not good academic practice, nor is it honest.
Alternatively, I suppose I could add that useful little word "sic" after the word "fat." But, for heaven's sake, aren't we all adults, and old enough to understand the issue?
At a time when gay people are reclaiming the word "queer" and black people absorb the N-word into their discourse, thereby diminishing its power, how pathetic to have to face hositility over one descriptive word used in its correct historical context.
It isn't my place to change it.
Besides, as a far-from-lightweight but reasonably presentable woman, I think I must reclaim the word "fat" into my life.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What do YOU think about this new trolleyology dilemma?
I joined a meeting with some budding philosophers to tell them something about my research relating to women phiilosophers, from ancient times to the present day. (Eighteen Amazing Women Philosophers)
It should have been fun. I planned a section on the growth of feminism through its famous "three waves" and, for a lively group discussion, I picked Philippa Foot's "Trolley Problem" where you may choose to divert a runaway trolley from its track towards one person, to save five vulnerable people on the other track.
There have been a few variants on Philippa Foot's work to look at other moral aspects presented by the problem. This includes the famous variant, The Fat Man.
The Fat Man version supposes that, instead of diverting the trolley with a lever, you push a fat man in front of it to stop it. Many people are willing to pull the lever to divert the trolley onto the other track, but they wouldn't directly kill the fat man by pushing him onto the track.
The issue with the fat man seemed to be a sticking point with the group, who were familiar with the variant. They had already read my book and discussed it, but wanted to pursue it further.
The first thing I was told was I should "lose the fat man." One member of the group was particularly angry that I should fat-shame this anonymous and representational overweight person.
Phew! What options do I have?
The Fat Man scenario was developed by from Philippa Foot's original version by other philosophers during a time when "fat" was used as an adjective.
Now it seems I am required to change "fat" to maybe, "large" in my book. Really?.
This seems patronising to say the least, as it denies the historical context of the dilemma, and the writing of Philippa Foot and other philosophers, such as Judith Jarvis Thomson, who helped developed the several variants of the problem including The Fat Man.
But, to change the established and accepted content of this text is not good academic practice, nor is it honest.
Alternatively, I suppose I could add that useful little word "sic" after the word "fat." But, for heaven's sake, aren't we all adults, and old enough to understand the issue?
At a time when gay people are reclaiming the word "queer" and black people absorb the N-word into their discourse, thereby diminishing its power, how pathetic to have to face hositility over one descriptive word used in its correct historical context.
It isn't my place to change it.
Besides, as a far-from-lightweight but reasonably presentable woman, I think I must reclaim the word "fat" into my life.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
August 4, 2019
Where I'm At...
I'm not terribly sure. I have been working hard on proofreading and updating, it's so easy for little things to slip through. I am always mortified if they do, but thankfully nothing too terrible. (I forget question marks!)
I'm fairly new to Goodreads, at least, as an active author participant, and this is my first blog on the site. Not sure if anyone's reading it. It would be nice to get one or two likes, just to know I'm connecting. I guess I'll get the hang of it.
My latest book, The Minx, is currently being read by two reviewers, one an ex student, another a friend of a friend, and also another recent acquaintance has just read it. It's early days but so far I am getting such positive feedback and I'm pretty sure it's genuine.
I was anxious about publishing back "in the day" as it's somewhat cross-genre - a saucy historical black comedy with a "true" background. (In other words I have taken many liberties with established truth, but why spoil a good story?) My heroine is a kind of medieval Becky Sharp, and I loved writing her character. She's so ambitious and self-serving, you have to admire her.
So it's brilliant people seem to like the book. I don't think I'm being conceited to say I believe it's well-written, as I have been practising my craft all my life so I should be fairly competent by now. However, I'm not letting on quite how old I am.
This book has never been sent to a traditional publisher as I felt it was a little saucy and my Mum might get hold of it. How prudish I was. It's tame by modern standards. All the same, I think it's fun, and self publishing seemed the way to go. The speed at which modern traditional publishers move towards publication day leaves much to be desired - I want to be still alive and active, still in possession of a full set of teeth and hair, so as to enjoy some of the compliments (I hope.)
So, if you're reading this and you'd like to put The Minx on your list, that will be great.
I'm fairly new to Goodreads, at least, as an active author participant, and this is my first blog on the site. Not sure if anyone's reading it. It would be nice to get one or two likes, just to know I'm connecting. I guess I'll get the hang of it.
My latest book, The Minx, is currently being read by two reviewers, one an ex student, another a friend of a friend, and also another recent acquaintance has just read it. It's early days but so far I am getting such positive feedback and I'm pretty sure it's genuine.
I was anxious about publishing back "in the day" as it's somewhat cross-genre - a saucy historical black comedy with a "true" background. (In other words I have taken many liberties with established truth, but why spoil a good story?) My heroine is a kind of medieval Becky Sharp, and I loved writing her character. She's so ambitious and self-serving, you have to admire her.
So it's brilliant people seem to like the book. I don't think I'm being conceited to say I believe it's well-written, as I have been practising my craft all my life so I should be fairly competent by now. However, I'm not letting on quite how old I am.
This book has never been sent to a traditional publisher as I felt it was a little saucy and my Mum might get hold of it. How prudish I was. It's tame by modern standards. All the same, I think it's fun, and self publishing seemed the way to go. The speed at which modern traditional publishers move towards publication day leaves much to be desired - I want to be still alive and active, still in possession of a full set of teeth and hair, so as to enjoy some of the compliments (I hope.)
So, if you're reading this and you'd like to put The Minx on your list, that will be great.
June 26, 2019
FREE FOR 5 DAYS - 18 AMAZING WOMEN PHILOSPHERS, EBOOK
in view of my previous post, I think a promotional campaign is in order. GET THIS BOOK FREE AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT BEING A WOMAN!
https://www.amazon.com/Eighteen-Amazi...
https://www.amazon.com/Eighteen-Amazi...
janetcameronwriting.blogspot.com
I blog about my own writing and thoughts about writing, reviews: my own and others. Links to my other blogs on history; poetry; art and culture; misanthropy.
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