Mary Astell Bücher

Die englische Philosophin und Feministin Mary Astell gehört zu den wenigen Denkerinnen der frühen Aufklärung des 17. Jahrhunderts. Gegen die Kritik der meisten Aufklärer hat sie ein Bildungskonzept für Frauen entwickelt. Nicht die Männer sollten Lehrmeister des 'schwachen' Geschlechts sein, sondern die Frauen selbst. Astells Haupttexte, A Serious Proposal to the Ladies und Some Reflections upon Marriage, liegen bislang nur zum Teil in einer neuen englischsprachigen Version vor. Mit der Übersetzung ins Deutsche sollen die kritischen Texte dieser frühen Aufklärerin einem modernen Publikum zugänglich gemacht werden. Versehen mit einem einführenden Teil, der Astells Leben und ihre Zeit anschaulich machen, liefert der Titel ein spannendes Zeitzeugnis.

Focusing on the institution of marriage, Mary Astell critiques its role and implications for women in her work, questioning why so few marriages are happy despite being deemed a divine state. She argues that while marriage is essential for perpetuating humanity, it often subjugates women to obedience. Astell provocatively suggests that if a woman cannot accept the realities of marriage, she may choose not to marry at all. This edition offers a modernized text with glosses, notes, and resources for students to better engage with Astell's complex prose.

Mary Astell's writings represent a significant yet often overlooked contribution to constitutional debates that shaped modern democracy. As a High Church Tory pamphleteer, she emerged as one of the first systematic critics of John Locke's philosophy, particularly his Two Treatises On Government. Her critiques challenge prevailing interpretations and highlight her unique perspective in the discourse surrounding political thought during her time. Astell's work invites a reevaluation of her influence on democratic theory and the reception of Locke's ideas.

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