Feminist Epistemology and Value

  • Alison Assiter
Chapter

Abstract

In previous chapters I have contended that it is significant that there is a universal human nature of a certain sort, and that it is possible to question the claim that moral values, in our contemporary world, must be plural. I have then moved on to look at the epistemological dimension of the argument. Descartes is one of the earliest and most forceful ‘universalists’ in epistemology, and I have suggested that, contrary to recent ‘postmodern’ thinkers, universalist thinking, although not of the Cartesian type, is tremendously important. In this chapter, I would like to defend an alternative epistemic outlook that begins from the conception of human nature earlier outlined.

Keywords

True Belief Moral Obligation Female Genital Mutilation Knowledge Claim Previous Chapter 
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Copyright information

© Alison Assiter 2003

Authors and Affiliations

  • Alison Assiter
    • 1
  1. 1.Humanities Languages and Social ScienceUniversity of the West of EnglandUK

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