Scrutinizing Feminist Epistemology: An Examination of Gender in Science

by Cassandra L. Pinnick (editor)

This volume presents the first systematic evaluation of a feminist epistemology of sciences’ power to transform both the practice of science and our society. Unlike existing critiques, this book questions the fundamental feminist suggestion that purging science of alleged male biases will advance the cause of both science and by extension, social justice. The book is divided into four the strange status of feminist epistemology, testing feminist claims about scientific practice, philosophical and political critiques of feminist epistemology, and future prospects of feminist epistemology. Each of the essays¾most of which are original to this text¾ directly confronts the very idea that there could be a feminist epistemology or philosophy of science. Rather than attempting to deal in detail with all of the philosophical views that fall under the general rubric of feminist epistemology, the contributors focus on positions that provide the most influential perspectives on science. Not all of the authors agree amongst themselves, of course, but each submits feminist theories to careful scrutiny. Scrutinizing Feminist Epistemology provides a timely, well-rounded, and much needed examination of the role of gender in scientific research.

Genres: Philosophy

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

Reviews

[V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent collection of criticisms of feminist standpoint theory. None quite get to the heart of the problem, but they're moving in the right direction by driving home the point that feminists really have no story about what it would mean to change the methods of science so that it reflected a feminist standpoint.