The Concept of Woman: The Aristotelian Revolution 750 BC - AD 1250

605 Pages·2016·27.57 MB·English

by  Sister Prudence Allen

THE
CONCEPT
OF
WOMAN
The Aristotelian Revolution
750 1250
BC-AD
Sister Prudence Allen,
R.S.M.
B.
WILLIAM EEERDMANS PUBLISHING COMPANY
U.K.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN / CAMBRIDGE,
(Q 1985 Eden Press
First published in Canad.1 1985 by
&kn Pn:ss
The first cditian was published wim the help of a gr:Ult from
the Can.tdian Feder-uion for th~ Hum:mitics,
using funds provickd by me Soci.tl Scknccs
and Hum:mities Research Council af Canada.
This edidon published in the United Sf3te5 of America 1997 by
Wm. B. Ec:rdmans Publishing Co.
255 Jdferson Ave. S.E., Grand R3pids, Michigan 495031
p.o. So, 163, Gunb.idS' CB3 9PU U.K
All rights reserved
Printed in the United 5wes of America
02 01 00 99 98 97 7 6 5 4 3 2
Libn.ry of Congress CaWoging·in.Publicuian Dati
Allen, Prudence.
The concept of woman ; the ArulOtdi;an n:volution
750 B.C.·A.D. 1250 I Prudence AJlen.
p. cm.
Origin:dly published: Montrc:ll: Eden Pres5, c1985.
Includes bibliogr.aphica1ll!ferences and indo:.
ISBN 0-8028-4270-4 (olk. pop")
1. Femininity (Philosophy) - Histary. 2. Women - History.
3. Sex - Hi5tory. I. TIde.
BD450A4725 1997
305.4'01-dclO 96·9102
CIP
DEDICATION TO THE FIRST EDITION
In gratitude for being the initial catalyst for this historical srudy of the concept of woman,
the first edition was dedicated to Reverend Mother Benedict Duss, C.S.B., Abbess of
Regina Laudis, Bethlehem, Connecticut.
DEDICATION TO THE SECOND EDITION
In gratitude fur their personal example of the lifelong dedication to learning I dedicate this
second edition to my parents, Mildred and Henry Allen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Chronological Table of me Phaosophers Considen:d ............. ........... xv
Ackn .....e dgem ...t s ....................................................... xvu
Preface to me Second Edition ................................•...•......... xix
Chapter I: PRECURSORS TO ARlSlUfLE .... ..................... 8
'mE PRE·SOCRATICS RAISE 'mE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ........... 8
The Poets .... ... .... ... .. ........................................ 12
Hesiod ...................................................... 12
Sappho ...................................................... I~
The Milesi.n •..................................................... 17
An. . im.nder. ......................... .. ........ ............. 17
Her.dim• .............. ..... ............ .. ................... 18
The Pythagorean •.............. .... ............................... 19
Pannenides .......................................................... 24
The PluraIi.su ...................•......•...•......................... 26
An=goras ..........................•............ .•....... ... 26
Aspasi . ...................................... ........ .. ...... 29
Empcdoclcs ................. ...... ........................... 30
Democritus .... ..•...... •.................................... 35
The Sophists ........................................ .............. 37
Procagoras ............................... .. ............. ..... 38
Gorgias ......................... ..... ........................ 40
Prodicus .................. ................................... 43
Antiphon ................................................. .. .45
The ffipp<>eratic Writing. ...................... ................... .. 46
THE SOCRATIC PHJl.OSOPHERS .. ..................................... 53
Xeoophon ........... ............................................. 53
Plato ............. ..... ... .......... ..... .. .... .. ...... ..... .. . ·.57
Opposites ......... .. ..... .................................... $8
Gen<:ration ....... .. ....... ................................... 61
Wisdom ............................... ...................... 66
Virtue ............ ....... .. ....... ........................... 71
n
SUMMARY AND EVAWATION ............. ........ ...................
n
The Significance of tbe Precursors to Aristode ...... .. ..... ........ ...
Philosophical Origins of Sex Pollrity ................................. 77
Philosophical Origins of Sex Complementari,y ......................... 78
Pllw IS the Fou"der of 'he Sex·Unity Position ... ...... .... .. ......... 79
Rationallty and Materiality Fragmented ...... .. ....................... 81
Chapter
II: ARiSTOTLE"",,""" " " """ " "" """ " ""'" ,83
ARISlUfLE'S CONSIDERATION OF HIS PREDECESSORS, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,83
Aristotle's Rejection of Theories of Female Seed, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ' , , ,84
Aristotle's Direct Rejection of Plato's Theory of Sex Unity, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,86
Aristotle's Indirect Rejection of Plato's Theory of Sex Unity, , , , , , , , , , , , ,88
ARlSlUfLE'S DEVELOPMENT OF SEX POLARITY, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,89
In What Way are Male and Female Opposite?, , , , , , , , , , , , . ' , ' , , , . , , , , , ,89
Female and Male as Contraries, , , , , , , , , , , , ' .. , . , , , , , , , , .. , , .. , .. 89
Female as Privation of the Male, , , , ' , , ' , , , ... , , , , , , , , , , ...... , , ,90
Female Compared to Matter, Male Compared to Form, , . , . , . , , , , ' , ,91
Female as Passive, Male as Active, , , , , , , , , , . , , , , , , ' , , , , , , , . , , , , , ,92
The Eatth (and Female) at Bottom of Universe, .. , ,. , , , , , " " , , , , ,93
What are the Respective Functions of Mothering
and Fathering in Generation?", .. " .. " .. ,' ' , .. , . , .... , , .. , , .. , , , , ,95
Woman as Cold, Man as Hot. , , , ' , , , , , , , , ' , , , , , , , , , . , ... , . , , , , ,95
Woman as Infettile, Imperfect and Defurmed Man, , , , , , , , .. , , , , , , ,97
Mother .s Contributor of Matter (Body),
and Father as Contributor of Form (Soul) to the Child, , , , . ' , , , , , , , ,98
Hostile Interaction of Opposites in Generation, , , , , ' , , , , , , , , , . , , , , 101
Do Women and Men Relate to Wisdom in the Same Way?, , . , .. , , , . , , , . 103
Reorientation of Philosophy Towards Definition, , , , , ' , , , , , . , , , , , , , 104
Women and Irrationality, Man and Rationality, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . , , , . 108
Women and True Opinion, Man and Knowledge" , , , , , , , , , , . , , , , , 109
Do Women and Men Have the Same or Different Virtues?, , , , . , , , ' , , , , , III
Women as Excluded from Manly Vinues, , , . , , , .. , . , , , , , , , , , , , , , , III
Woman's Virtue to Obey, Man's Virtue to Rule, . , .. , . , . , . , ... , , . , , 112
Separate and Unequal Virtues in the Household, . , , , , , , , , .. , . , , , , 114
Virtue and Character in Man and Woman, , . , , , . , , , . , , , . , . , , , , , , , 117
SUMMARY AND EVALUATION, ' , .. , , , ' , , , , , , , , , , , , .. , , , , , , , , ' .. , , , , , ,119
Aristotle as the Founder of the Sex Polarity Position, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 119
Sex Unity and Sex Neutrality Compared, , , , , , , . , , , , , , , , . , , , , , , , , 121
The Double Paradox of Plato and Aristotle, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . , .. , , , , 122
Aristotle's Complex Combination of Error and Truth, , , , , , , . , . , , , , ,123
Rationality and Materiality Unified" "" , , , , , , , , , , , , , .. . , , , , , , , 124
Sex Polarity. Imbalance, and Hostility"", , , , , , , , , . , , , , , . , , , , , , , 126
,O,F ,, , . , . , , , , ., , ,
~i:gte~iM:Jfc A£~IJi~:S ,~~~~LI~~,
.127
GREEK sCHOOIS OF PHILOSOPHY .... , .. .. .. , .. ' .... , .... .. .......... 128
Plato's Academy" ",',.,"""""" ", .," """ "', .,., .... "., 129
Aristotle's Sebool: The Peripatetics, , , , ' , , . ' , ' , , , ... , , . , ,. , , , , , , , , , ' ,131
Epicureanism, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . ' , , , , , • , . , , , , , . , , , , , 13 3
,,;;i
um• • iul..... . ...... ". ....... .. ............. n1
Neo.P}'.hqc>Tftftbm ........... , ••.••. . ........... , .. 141
1 ... _ •... " •...... ,.. . .. , ..•.. IH
~ictionc:
llKano L ....... _............ .. .. ......... " ...... 145
Pbynlis ,................... .. .... . ...................... 147
1oj(1;.. ................ " ...... ,', ......................... ))0
~~Iiono: II ................................................. m
"". .' " ••......•.•.....•.• , ... , .........••...•..•........... 111
M'ia ..................... _. ......... _. . , ..... , .......... 1l2
TMano.. . ........... ,...... _. , .... , ....... , .... IH
Early and Middle Stoicism (Zeno). , , . . . . . . _. .... , , ... , , . , ..... U9
ROMAN STOICISM DISCOVERS ARISTOTLE AND PLATO ............... 164
Ciouo .................... . .. .. . ................. 161
Sen«:. ..... ,....... ... . ......... , •......... , 167
Pita,. the EIda-........... .. • ......... 171
. ............. In
M.......J ... R. . I. ........... .
EI' lui .... ............ .. ......... . 1'1
J ......... ............ "........... . .............. , ........ 182
Mamu Ao!m; .................... " ........•.....•............... , 181
C.Ien ............................... , ...... , .... , .......... , .... 187
SEX POLARITY DEVELOPED IN J[WISH PHILOSOPHy ......• , ..... ,189
Philo ............. "...... .. . .., ........ , .. , .......... ,. 189
S[X UNITY DEV[LOPW IN NE().PLATON!SM.. . .. ,""' , .... 19l
PluW'Ch., .... ,.,........ ...,... . .............. ,'" , .. _1 91
PIoIU. ..... ,. . ................................................... 201
Por""", ..... w.n:dla ......... ,....... . ........................ 20'
H,patio ... ,...................... ..,....... ......... . 210
SDC UNITY, SEX POLARITY, AND SEX COMPLDlEr.'TARlTY COM81Na)
IN EARLY OIRIS'nAN PHILOSOPHy....... .. ................... 2\}
S• . Catherin. of AI ........, .;.......... . .................... 214
S• . Au'u.i...... ... ........... .. ................ 218
0Pp<WI<$ .... ,' , ....... _ ._., ................... 219
C.o."'tion.............. . ............. 222
Wi$dom .............. , ...... , ..•...... , ................. , .. 227
........ . . ........... n]
V;'.~......................
Boethi.. . ....................... ........... . ........... 2J.6
Job .. Scowl &~............. . .. .. . . . . .. 240
SUMMARY AND EVAWAnON .... , .............. _. ...... _. ......... 20
The SI ....... "" Ariltoflelian ~I ...; on .... ,........... ..24J
s...
Tho New ~l. .; oa of Uai.,. ..... Sa Neu ...l lty ....••............ 20
1"""h"e'. IQe uestioa of F. .... le Seed. . . . ................ , 244
Penonlllcadons of Wiodom .nd female Philosoph....... . .• 14'
Rell,io ... and Philooopbkol Oriainl 01 $eo; PoLa,.;ty" ................. 247
•
Religiow and Philosophical Origin. of Sex Complemenrarity ....•...... 248
The Disco""ry of Spirituality and IndiYiduality .... .. ....... .. ........ 249
~~:~~~ ~~~~~.F
.................... ............. 251
SEX IDENTITY IN MEDIEVAL CHRJSTIAN PHlWSOPHY ..... .......... 252
Sex Complemenrarity in Women's and Men's Monastetles .. ....•.•.. .... 252
Hildo. of Whitby .... ..... .... ..... ....... ......... ......... .. 253
Roswitha of G:lndenheim ................... .............. ... . 154
St. Anselm ... ........... ... ................................. 262
Abelard and Heloise .................. .............. ......... . 271
Hildegard of Bingen ................................... , ...... 292
0PPoJi/e1. , . , ............ ..... .......... ............. .. ... 296
Generation .................. , , ............ , ............... 298
WiJdom ........ , .... ........ , ... , •....•.•.... , , .....•.... 303
Virtue .. , ............ , .................................... 309
Hertad of Landsberg ...... ................ .............. ... ... 315
Sex Polarity in Popular Literature, ....... ...•......•. .. .•.•......... 328
The Crusades and Courtly Ime ................................. 329
Andreas Capellanus ................ ............ .........• .... 332
W:uter Map ........... , ............ ,.", ................ .... 337
SEX UNITY AND SEX POLARJTY INCORPORATED
INTO ISLAMIC PHIWSOPHY .. ............ ............... , ........... 339
Avicenna ...... , ...... ............................•....•.•.... , . , 340
Averroes .............. .......... , . , ......... ... . , ....•.•.. , ..... 344
SEX UNITY AND SEX POLARJTY INCORPORATED
m
INTO JEWISH PHILOSOPHy ...................................... . , . ,
Ayicebron ............... .................. .......•....... ....... 351
Maimonides ...................................................... 354
THE REASSERTION OF SEX POLARJTY IN
LATER MEDIEVAL CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY ....... , .....•............ 361
Commenraries and Tnns1ations 01 Aristotle's Corpus ......•......•..... 361
St. Albert the Grel. . .. ................ , , , ........................ 362
Opposites ........................... , .... ............ ....... 363
Generation ........................................... ..... .. 364
Wisdom .. ....... .. .......... .. .... .. ...... ........... , ... .. 373
Virtue .. , ........... . , ................... ................... 374
Mariology ......... ....................................... ... 376
St. Tho"",. Aquinas .......................................... .... 385
Opposites ......... , , ............... , , ....................... 387
Gener.tion ................................................. . 392
Wisdom ..... .. .. , .................•.... , ............. , .. ... 399
Virtue ...... ............. ........ , ................. , ........ 402
SUMMARY AND EVALUATION ...................................... .408
Hildegard as the Foundress of Sex Complementarity ........... ........ 408
The Weakening Influence of Platonic Grounds for Sex Unity ........... 409
The Tension Between Sex Complementarity and Sex Polarity ...... ..... 409
The Explosion of AristOll!lian Grounds for
Sex Polarity in The Thirll!enth Centuty ............................ .410
Chapter V: THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ARIS1UI'LE .. .413
EARLY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PARiS .................................... 414
ARlS1UI'LE AND THE FOUR FACULTIES
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PARiS .......................... ............ 417
The Faculty of Arts ............................................... 419
The Faculty of Theology ...... ..... ................•............. .424
The Faculty of Medicine .............................. ............. 430
The Faculty of Law ............................................... 436
THE INFLUENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS
ON EUROPEAN THOUGHT .................................... ...... 441
THE POPULARIZATION OF ARlS'IUI'LE'S
DOUBTFUL AND SPURIOUS WORKS .............. ..... .............. .443
Liber de Causis and Theology of Aristotle ............................. 444
The Apple or Aristotle'. Death ........................................ 445
Secretum Secretorum ................... ........................... 446
Oeconomicus ...................................•................ 449
De Secretis Mulierum .................. ........................... 453
Aristotle's Masterpiece .. ......... ... ...... ............... ......... .455
SUMMARY AND EVALUATION ...... .... ............................. 468
The ViCloty of the Aristoll!lian Revolution .......................... 468
The Institutionalization of Sex Neutrality ........ .....•... .......... .469
The Popularity of Aristotelian Sex Polarity ............. ............ .469
The Disappearance of Sex Complementarity ......... ...........•.... .470
The Universities and the Fragmentation
of Knowledge about the Person ......................... ....... .. . .472
CONCLUSION ....................................................... 474
NOTES ................................................................ 479
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................... 544
JlI)[)ITIONALSOlJltCES ............................................ 563
INI>EX ................................................................ 569