German Women Intellectuals 1700-1830

The Center for the History of Women Philosophers at Paderborn University, Germany invites contributions to an interdisciplinary workshop, organised by Ruth Hagengruber in cooperation with Karen Green, of the University of Melbourne, Australia, whose chapter on women’s political thought in Europe “From Hanover and Leipzig to Russia” in A History of Women’s Political Thought in Europe, 1700-1800 (Cambridge, 2014), serves to introduce the topic.

In particular, the workshop on the history of women philosophers and intellectuals of the 18thcentury (1700-1830) will focus on the following areas: the philosophical, scientific, literary productions, written within the Enlightenment tradition and beyond, whose main figures are, but not limited to, Luise Kulmus Gottsched (1713-1762), Johanna Charlotte Unzer (1725-1782), Elise Reimarius (1735-1805), Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766-1817), and Dorothea Schlözer (1770-1825). Contributions that refer to philosophical relevant correspondences or translations are also welcome as well as papers on scholars such as Dorothea Erxleben (1715-1762) or Catherine the Great’s reflections on law (1729-1796).

Special attention will be paid to the reception and literary function of ancient women in that period such as Sappho, Diotima, the women Pythagoreans and others.

Invited speakers:

Katherine Goodman (Brown University, USA)

Karen Green (University of Melbourne, Australia)