A representação da mulher no pensamento dos filósofos iluministas portugueses (original) (raw)

The eighteenth century is known to be the century of women and the century of philosophers. It is commonplace to consider that philosophers, as opinion makers, have supported noble causes which have contributed towards humanity thinking and living better. However, concerning women, and to our amazement, Enlightenment philosophers excluded and relegated women to second place in the world of knowledge. Enlightenment philosophy advocated the universality of reason, but did so in a way that represents, in fact, a means to exercise violence against women, ignoring a world that was peculiarly their own, a female way of being and thinking, and imposing a single model, the male, as created by men. However, at the same time, taking advantage of the fissures of the patriarchal society, did not fail to be heard. 'Hidden' they participated in the intellectual life of their community and did everything to escape the limits imposed by the representations that were made of them. Writing was a way to escape the constraints imposed on female behaviour. Words were the weapon of choice for women. Affecting an appearance of modesty, humility and discretion, some women were spreading and publishing their writings whenever an opportunity arose-even anonymously or under a male pseudonym. But their manuscripts did not always survive the passing of time. Portuguese philosophers, nationwide and with much parsimony, also participated in the debate on women that occurred in Europe and whose echoes can be found in the texts of Luís António Verney, António Ribeiro Sanches, Matias Aires e Teodoro de Almeida.