Introduction

Many standard histories of philosophy tend to overlook women's contributions to historical-intellectual discussions concerning ethical, political, metaphysical, and religious freedom. This introduction explains how this volume provides a different perspective on the history of philosophical concepts of liberty in the pre-enlightenment period. It claims that because most of the early modern ideas and arguments discussed in this volume come from women, or from men who discuss women's concerns, they tend to offer a female-oriented or a feminist slant on issues to do with freedom. Moreover, by highlighting women's contributions to the topic, this work enhances our understanding of the development of concepts of liberty leading up to Kant; it demonstrates how these figures anticipate many recent ideas concerning freedom; and it brings to the fore several neglected themes and genres within philosophy and feminism. The introduction then summarizes how these various historiographical points emerge in each chapter of the volume.