Canadian Journal of Philosophy· 2026Q1
Kant’s Sexism Reconsidered: A Critical Account of Kant’s Theory of Citizenship in the Context of Theodor von Hippel’s and Amalia Holst’s Theories of Women’s Duties
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
This article critically re-examines Immanuel Kant's theory of citizenship, arguing that his view of women as passive citizens, restricted to domestic roles and exhibiting class bias, contrasts with contemporary Enlightenment debates on women's rights and duties.
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Key points
- Kant viewed women as passive citizens, limited to domestic and reproductive roles, with a class-based bias in his theory.
- Theodor von Hippel advocated for women's intellectual and civic contributions, proposing legal and social reforms influenced by Kant.
- Amalia Holst sought to balance women's traditional duties with their access to higher education.
- The article situates these differing perspectives within Enlightenment debates on women's rights and duties.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract This article reconsiders Kant’s theory of citizenship in the light of various Enlightenment debates on the duties and rights of women. First, the paper analyzes Kant’s view of women as passive citizens, confined to reproductive labour and domestic subordination, and highlights the class bias in his account. Second, it examines Theodor von Hippel’s defence of the intellectual and civic contributions of women, situating his proposals for legal and social reform in the wake of the influence of Kant’s practical philosophy. Third, it explores Amalia Holst’s attempt to reconcile the gendered duties of women with their access to higher education.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Philosophy
PhilosophyArts and Humanities