ABSTRACT
Feminist philosophy is a substantial and vibrant area of contemporary philosophy. Feminist philosophers critique and also contribute to traditional areas of philosophy such as philosophy of language, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, ethics, political philosophy, and aesthetics. Early work in feminist history of philosophy concentrated on criticizing the philosophical canon, not only targeting the explicit sexism of many of the figures in this canon but also arguing that more pervasive sexist biases often shape entire philosophical frameworks. From its outset feminist philosophy has addressed issues in philosophy of mind and metaphysics, particularly concerning the relations between body and mind, between selves and others, and the nature of identity. Feminist philosophers of science have found many opportunities for analysis both of the practices of science and in the philosophy of science. Feminism has always integrated critical projects with positive ones, but positive projects in moral and political philosophy and aesthetics have flourished in the last fifteen years.
