Critical Thought and Feminism in the Spanish Enlightenment

Ángeles Jiménez Perona

doi:10.17951/i.2015.40.1.103

Abstract

The following is a brief description of several examples of the critical and feminist thought prevailing during the Spanish Enlightenment. To bring its particular features into sharper focus we first compare it with the feminist thought that evolved during the French Enlightenment, and then with Spanish non-feminist Enlightenment thought. By looking at these examples we will show how this feminist thought focused very specifically on the notion of subject, which was itself shaped by the drive to bring about a new model of state and society.

Highlights

S critical Thought and Feminism in the spanish enlightenment1 C Pensamiento crítico y Feminismo en la ilustración español
U This French feminist thought is itself entrenched in the entire political philosophy surrounding the construction of the modern state and the corresponding new social order
What takes place in europe is not so much “feminist” thought, but a radically new chapter in the old “Women’s question” (La querelle des femmes). the term feminism dates from the 19th century, i use it in this essay as a convenient shorthand to refer to this concept

Summary

Introduction

S critical Thought and Feminism in the spanish enlightenment1 C Pensamiento crítico y Feminismo en la ilustración español. Nor was Feijoo the irst spanish intellectual to construct modern arguments in favour of equality for women.

Results

Conclusion