Stoicism and Slander in Marie de Gournay

Matthew Anderson

Stoicism and Slander in Marie de Gournay

Matthew Anderson (Monash University)  

Abstract: This paper generates a new understanding of Marie de Gournay’s ethics by demonstrating that she incorporates Stoic ideas into her moral thought. Stoic philosophy informs her thinking about issues spanning from the moral and intellectual equality of the sexes to the final end and the identification of what is good, evil, and indifferent. Furthermore, Gournay’s treatment of honour is indebted to the concept of honestum used by both Seneca and Cicero, and to the distinction between fama, gloria and claritas found in Seneca’s writings. Her theory of slander is informed by these same social concepts. Like the Stoics, Gournay thinks that humans are naturally rational and social, and that slander is unnatural because of the harm it does to truth, judgement and social relations. The paper concludes by demonstrating how Gournay’s use of sceptical strategies in her writings does not detract from the importance of Stoic ideas to her philosophy.

Bio: Matthew Anderson is a postdoctoral researcher in the philosophy department at Monash University, working on the Australian Research Council Discovery Project 'Toward a Female Stoic Tradition: Women's Writings in England, 1600-1800'. He is interested in the history of philosophy and focuses on the history of ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of law.

Zoom Link: https://deakin.zoom.us/j/88676336516?pwd=ROGuaHVjnEC23nzB3UwOHc2x9mVeBi.1&from=addon

Meeting ID: 886 7633 6516 // Password: 63215838

This meeting is at 12:30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) 21 July 2026 [02:30am UTC 21 July 2026]