Mary Wollstonecraft

Question 1

Book?

Answer 1

A vindication of the rights of women (1792), remains a classic of political thought

Question 2

Human nature?

Answer 2

• Intellectually, men and women aren’t very different
• Enlightenment’s optimistic views of HN and assumption that it was guided by reason should apply to all human beings
• Pointed out the existing state and society promoted the view that women were not rational as women has no formal equality
• This makes them slaves in a political and civil sense

Question 3

The state?

Answer 3

• Monarchial state should be replaced by a republic that enshrines women’s rights
• Welcomed the American revolution of 1776 and French revolution of 1789
• Attacked Burke’s critique of the French revolution and his defence of custom
• Stressed importance for republican govt and formal equality

Question 4

Society?

Answer 4

• Society ‘infantilised’ women and thus stifled female individualism
• Women should have formal equality: the right to buy, as this is crucial to freedom and individualism: the right to education, to allow reason to prosper: the right to vote

Question 5

Economy?

Answer 5

A free market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women