Gender and Sexuality in Stoic Philosophy

Description

This book investigates the Ancient Stoic thinkers’ views on gender and sexuality. A detailed scrutiny of metaphysics, ethics and political philosophy reveals that the Stoic philosophers held an exceptionally equal view of men and women’s rational capacities. In its own time, Stoicism was frequently called ‘ the manly school’ of philosophy, but this volume shows that the Stoics would have also transformed many traditional notions of masculinity. Malin Grahn-Wilder compares the earlier philosophies of Plato and Aristotle to show that the Stoic position often stands out within Ancient philosophy as an exceptionally bold defense of women’s possibilities to achieve the highest form of wisdom and happiness. The work argues that the Stoic metaphysical notion of human being is based on strikingly egalitarian premises, and opens new perspectives to Stoic philosophy on the whole. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvi Introduction (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 1-13 Front Matter ....Pages 15-15 The Origin of Gender: Myths and Biology (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 17-58 Semen, Zeus, and the Birth of Cosmos: Gender in Stoic Cosmogony and Cosmology (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 59-73 The Metaphysical Insignificance of Gender (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 75-99 Perfumed Men and Bearded Philosophers—The Stoics on Signs of Gender (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 101-122 Fiery and Cold Natures—Stoic Physiognomics of Gender (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 123-133 Front Matter ....Pages 135-135 Gender, Character, and Education from Classic to Hellenistic Thought (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 137-157 The Stoics on Equal Educability of Girls and Boys, and the Origin of Gendered Characteristics (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 159-180 To Become Properly Manly—Gender, Happiness, and the Figure of the Sage (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 181-198 How to Take “Certain Spasms” Calmly—Sexuality in Stoic Philosophical Therapy (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 199-216 Front Matter ....Pages 217-217 Gender, Politics, and Economics: From Plato’s Utopianism to Cynic Radicalism (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 219-233 “Holding Women in Common”—Gender in Early Stoic Utopias (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 235-252 Is It Possible to Marry and Be Happy? The Later Stoics on Matrimony and Modes of Life (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 253-276 Gender and Stoic Cosmopolitanism (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 277-285 Conclusion (Malin Grahn-Wilder)....Pages 287-294 Back Matter ....Pages 295-307