Aristotle on Female Animals: A Study of the __Generation of Animals__

Aristotle's Account Of Female Nature Has Received Mostly Negative Treatment, Emphasising What He Says Females Cannot Do. Building On Recent Research, This Book Comprehensively Revises Such Readings, Setting Out The Complex And Positive Role Played By The Female In Aristotle's Thought With A Particular Focus On The Longest Surviving Treatise On Reproduction In The Ancient Corpus, The Generation Of Animals. It Provides New Interpretations Of The Nature Of Aristotle's Sexism, His Theory Of Male And Female Interaction In Generation, And His Account Of Inherited Features. It Also Discusses A Range Of More General Issues Which Can And Should Be Re-examined In Light Of Aristotle's Account Of Female Animals: His Methodology, Hylomorphism, Teleology And Psychology. Aristotle On Female Animals Will Be Valuable To All Those Interested In Aristotle's Philosophy And The History Of Gender-- Introduction -- Part I. Methodology In The Study Of Aristotle On Female Animals: 1. Feminism, Sexism And Aristotle -- 2. Consistency In The Generation Of Animals -- Part Ii. Re-assessing The Generative Role Of The Female Animal In Aristotle: 3. Menstrual Blood And Female Semen -- 4. Matter -- Part Iii. Re-assessing The Generative Role Of The Male Animal In Aristotle: 5. The Male As Efficient And Formal Cause Of Generation -- 6. Interpretations Of Aristotle On The Male Role -- Part Iv. Generation In Lower Animals And Particular Instances: 7. Generation In Lower Animals -- 8. Aristotle On Sexual Differentiation -- 9. Aristotle On Heredity -- 10. Teleology And Necessity In The Generation Of Animals -- Conclusion. Sophia M. Connell (university Of Cambridge) Includes Bibliographical References (pages 380-406) And Indexes. "Aristotle's account of female nature has received mostly negative treatment, emphasising what he says females cannot do. Building on recent research, this book comprehensively revises such readings, setting out the complex and positive role played by the female in Aristotle's thought with a particular focus on the longest surviving treatise on reproduction in the ancient corpus, the Generation of Animals. It provides new interpretations of the nature of Aristotle's sexism, his theory of male and female interaction in generation, and his account of inherited features. It also discusses a range of more general issues which can and should be re-examined in light of Aristotle's account of female animals: his methodology, hylomorphism, teleology and psychology. Aristotle on Female Animals will be valuable to all those interested in Aristotle's philosophy and the history of gender"-- Provided by publisher In this book, Sophia M. Connell sets out Aristotle's views on female animals and argues that they should be seen in a much more positive light than has been previously thought. This results in a reassessment of many fundamental aspects of Aristotle's metaphysics, philosophy and methodology. Analyses the female in Aristotle's biology, leading to a reassessment of his hylomorphism, scientific methodology and psychology