CFP: JHP Summer Seminar: “Ancient Origins of Renaissance and Early Modern Feminism”

Call for Applications: JHP Summer Seminar, “Ancient Origins of Renaissance and Early Modern Feminism” (May 15–19, 2023)

The Summer Seminar will take place from May 15th to May 19th, 2023.

The deadline for applications is on February 15, 2023.

Here below you can find the course description provided with additional information.

Mindful of the challenges facing young scholars working in the history of philosophy, the Board of Directors of the Journal of the History of Philosophy has established a Summer Seminar in the History of Philosophy. The central idea of the program is that a senior scholar who works primarily in some area of the history of philosophy would undertake to direct an intensive week of summer classes for the benefit of a small group of recent PhDs whose main research and teaching are in the relevant area. Normally, the classes will focus on one or more texts that are typically not part of material that the participants would have studied as graduate students. The goal of the program is the enhancement of the expertise and understanding of the young scholars in their area of specialization.

The JHP will select up to six individuals from among those who apply to participate in five days of intense classes on the announced subject. All travel and housing and food for the duration of the classes will be paid by the JHP up to $1,750. 

Dates: May 15–19, 2023

Location: McGill University

Topic: “Ancient Origins of Renaissance and Early Modern Feminism”

Instructor: Marguerite Deslauriers (McGill University)

Course Description: The history of feminist philosophy often begins in the late 17th century, neglecting important earlier works. This seminar will focus on a feminist work from 1601, Lucrezia Marinella’s La nobiltà et l’eccellenza delle donne co’ diffetti et mancamenti de gli uomini (The Nobility and Excellence of Women and the Defects and Vices of Men), with two aims in mind. The first is to consider the ancient sources of Marinella’s arguments, and their transmission and transformation in Renaissance and early modern pro-woman works. The second is to consider how the concepts that emerged from this reworking of ancient sources, e.g. dignity, rationality, liberty, body, virtue, were foundational to later feminist projects.  A third aim is methodological: to explore research (and teaching) with non-academic works and genres usually excluded from philosophy.

Application: Applicants should send a letter of interest along with a CV to Prof. Mariska Leunissen ([email protected]).

Qualifications: Applicants with a PhD in philosophy received no earlier than January 1, 2017 as well as advanced graduate students are welcome to apply.

AOS: This seminar will be useful to those interested in the history of feminist philosophy, in the reception of ancient philosophy in the Renaissance, and in the development of egalitarian concepts. The readings will be available in English, but any knowledge of Italian, Greek, or Latin will be helpful.

Deadline for submission: Applications must be received no later than February 15, 2023. Applicants will be notified by March 1, 2023.