International Network of Women Philosophers Conference on the occasion of World Philosophy Day

«UNESCO, 18 November 2010

Proposal

The objectives of this conference are to:

• Enable women philosophers to discuss a theme of interest to the Network;

• Promote the Network among a large World Philosophy Day audience;

• Promote the Network among UNESCO Member State representatives.

The theme for discussion at the conference will be:

Women philosophers and “political correctness”

or

Femmes philosophes et le « politiquement correct »

What does it mean to be a woman philosopher? Woman-cum-philosopher? Philosopher – woman?

Is it possible to be both a woman and a philosopher? This question addresses balances of power, which vary greatly from culture to culture but are a real force in today’s societies. Philosopher – woman? The question here regards the predominance of masculine values in the very act of thinking about thought. It is then quite directly that the Network of Women Philosophers can have the objective, or give the impression, of disturbing or disrupting.

Gender has become a central issue in a number of societies; something which is “politically correct” not to ignore. Leaving room for women philosophers is therefore a politically correct minimum requisite, though enforcing this is still difficult. In fact, is not the Network of Women Philosophers itself a mere “politically correct” initiative? Is this not already a way of making the Network less disturbing?

With this in mind, we would like to examine in this conference the concept of political correctness itself. Applying it to a field of study combining intellectual work and the issue of gender is not so simple. In particular, it inevitably brings up the issue of standards: are the intellectual standards – so well (excessively?) integrated and interiorized by some of us – preventing us from seeing and thinking? Can academic discourse be women’s discourse? Do other forms of discourse, more philosophical than academic, exist? What is to be considered an acceptable deviation from the rule? Which rule? While it is politically correct to demand neither gender nor intellectual conformity, what criteria must we reinvent as a consequence? What “alternative” philosophical discourses can we accept? And who does the term “we” represent? Despite efforts already made, a philosophically and politically “incorrect” way of thinking probably still needs to be invented?»

e-mail de Moufida Goucha

Chief of Philosophy and Democracy Section

UNESCO