Gender, Class, and Freedom in Modern Political Theory

by Nancy J. Hirschmann

In Gender, Class, and Freedom in Modern Political Theory, Nancy Hirschmann demonstrates not merely that modern theories of freedom are susceptible to gender and class analysis but that they must be analyzed in terms of gender and class in order to be understood at all. Through rigorous close readings of major and minor works of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Mill, Hirschmann establishes and examines the gender and class foundations of the modern understanding of freedom. Building on a social constructivist model of freedom that she developed in her award-winning book The Subject of Liberty: Toward a Feminist Theory of Freedom, she makes in her new book another original and important contribution to political and feminist theory.


Despite the prominence of "state of nature" ideas in modern political theory, Hirschmann argues, theories of freedom actually advance a social constructivist understanding of humanity. By rereading "human nature" in light of this insight, Hirschmann uncovers theories of freedom that are both more historically accurate and more relevant to contemporary politics. Pigeonholing canonical theorists as proponents of either "positive" or "negative" liberty is historically inaccurate, she demonstrates, because theorists deploy both conceptions of freedom simultaneously throughout their work.

Genres: Feminism

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 12, 2007

About the author

Nancy Hirschmann is a Professor of Politics at the University of Pennsylvania. Her specialties are the history of political thought, analytical philosophy, feminist theory, disability theory, and the intersection of political theory and public policy.

Reviews

[Letitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent exploration of the five grandfathers of political science: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Mills. Hirschmann's style is highly academic, so I am worried about assigning this to undergrads, but I'm going to go for it. Her assessment is so clear, thorough and fair that I feel this should be a standard for anyone learning the basics of political theory. Dense enough to please any social science nerd.

Used to teach Introduction to Political Science at JCCC.