Feminism, Primatology, and Ethical Naturalism

Arnhart, Larry

doi:10.1017/s0730938400015100

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…In answering each of these charges, first I will set forth Aristotle's position; then I will suggest how modern biological research might confirm his position on at least the major points; and finally I will indicate the compatibility of his position with some versions of feminist theory. My argument in this paper supports my more general argument for a political naturalism founded on a teleological biology (Arnhart, 1984(Arnhart, , 1988(Arnhart, , 1990(Arnhart, , 1992(Arnhart, , 1994. Sexual Reproduction I begin with the first feminist objection-that Aristotle's theory of sexual reproduction manifests a sexist bias.…”

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confidence: 58%

A Sociobiological Defense of Aristotle's Sexual Politics

Arnhart¹

1994

International Political Science Review

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This article defends Aristotle and sociobiology against their feminist critics by arguing that a biological conception of human nature rightly understood can support feminism. Aristotle's telelogical biology is not sexist. On the contrary, his biology suggests lines of argument that could vindicate feminism in some form. By arguing for marital friendship as the standard for judging spousal relationships, and by defending family life, and particularly maternal caregiving, as the natural root of all sociality and politics, Aristotle elevates the claims of women and suggests that the fullest human excellence would combine masculine and feminine inclinations.Aristotle's functional teleology sustains a conception of natural human needs and powers as universal despite the variability of cultures. Without such an understanding of a universal human nature, feminists are tempted to adopt a cultural relativism that renders their critique of patriarchy incoherent. Furthermore, this defense of Aristotle applies as well to sociobiological accounts of human sexual nature.What do feminists mean when they speak about the patriarchal exploitation of women? Do they mean that women have needs and capacities that are denied in societies dominated by men? Do they mean that treating women as morally and intellectually inferior to men is contrary to the nature of women? Do they assume that women must liberate themselves from patriarchal authority to express their natural potentialities? If this is the meaning of the feminist critique of patriarchy, then the case for feminism requires a functional or teleological argument: since human beings have ends or goals, needs or desires, that specify their nature as human beings, and since human beings pursue their happiness through the fulfillment of their natural ends, to deny women the freedom to express these human inclinations is contrary to their nature as human beings. It is surprising, therefore, that the philosopher who most fully developed this kind of reasoning at UNIV OF MICHIGAN on February 6, 2015 ips.sagepub.com Downloaded from

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confidence: 58%

A Sociobiological Defense of Aristotle's Sexual Politics

Arnhart¹

1994

International Political Science Review

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“…5. Contrary to the assumption of some feminists that Aristotle's biological naturalism denigrates women, his argument for maternal caregiving as the natural root of human sociality elevates the claims of women (Arnhart 1992(Arnhart , 1994b.…”

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confidence: 67%

The New Darwinian Naturalism in Political Theory

Arnhart

1995

Am Polit Sci Rev

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There has been a resurgence of Darwinian naturalism in political theory, as manifested in the recent work of political scientists such as Roger D. Masters, Robert J. McShea, and James Q. Wilson. They belong to an intellectual tradition that includes not only Charles Darwin but also Aristotle and David Hume. Although most political scientists believe Darwinian social theory has been refuted, their objections rest on three false dichotomies: facts versus values, nature versus freedom, and nature versus nurture. Rejecting these dichotomies would allow the social sciences to be linked to the natural sciences through Darwinian biology.

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“…12. A prevalent example of the attempt to control women's sexual behavior is the widespread practice of female genital mutilation (see Arnhart, 1992 for a detailed analysis). Not only does this brutal practice eliminate women's sexual desire, it is a means for men to control women's sexual activity in order to assure the paternity of their children.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feminism and the Politics of Reproductive Strategies

Liesen¹

1995

Polit. life sci.

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Feminists have often been among the most outspoken critics of sociobiology, maintaining that sociobiology is inherently sexist and that it is used to uphold patriarchy. This article examines the latest research by scholars—many of them women—who have used a sociobiological approach to expand our understanding of female behavior. It shows that sociobiology recognizes complexity in human reproductive behavior and that members of both sexes employ a variety of reproductive strategies, depending upon their environments. Women are not necessarily sexually passive within the sociobiological paradigm, and they are not “naturally” parents; moreover, men clearly play a necessary and significant role in parenting. Women do have reproductive interests that are separate from those of men, and these interests clash. Despite these conflicts of reproductive interest, however, men and women can develop cooperative relationships to achieve their mutual goal of raising children to maturity. Patriarchy is not—within the sociobiological paradigm—a natural order between males and females. Sociobiology also does not suggest that women should be restricted to parenting roles; indeed, sociobiological research can provide the basis for greater freedom for both men and women in reproduction and resource acquisition.

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Feminism, Primatology, and Ethical Naturalism

Cited by 11 publications

References 32 publications

A Sociobiological Defense of Aristotle's Sexual Politics

A Sociobiological Defense of Aristotle's Sexual Politics

The New Darwinian Naturalism in Political Theory

Feminism and the Politics of Reproductive Strategies

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