Feminism & Philosophical Women in Russell’s Circle

For an era finally starting to reflect on the historical marginalization of women in philosophy, Bertrand Russell should be an enigma. On the one hand, Russell constructively engaged with a host of female philosophers like Dorothy Wrinch, Victoria Welby, and Susan Stebbing. He wrote pioneering work on issues of interest to modern feminism, and could be counted on as an ally in many political causes important to women. But on the other hand, Russell’s advocacy of sexual freedom, though often done under the guise of women’s rights, shaded into personal relationships with women that have long been a source of concern. This workshop aims to reexamine Russell’s complicated relationship to women and to the emergence of modern feminism.