The Rights of Woman as Chimera: The Political Philosophy of Mary Wollstonecraft (Studies in Philosophy)

The Rights of Woman as Chimera examines Mary Wollstonecraft's intellectual relationship to Rousseau, Locke, and Aristotle. Although she learned much from each philosopher, her own thought cannot be said to be simply derivative of these thinkers. In considering the woman question, Wollstonecraft levels important, but friendly, critiques of her male predecessors. She puts forth a conception of the nature of woman, which is informed by and consistent with her larger political philosophy, and this study endeavors to outline this conception of the nature of woman. The land of chimeras Rousseau's half-being Navigating the land of chimeras with our only star & compass John Locke's other half being Nature does nothing in vain The foundation of almost every social virtue In a word, a better citizen.