Multiculturality and Feminism in ancient Greece

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is limited to exploring the existence of an early philosophical perception of the cultural diversity that allowed a first wave of feminist thought in classical Greece. The subject is relevant because of the existence of a long debate that was renewed in the first year of the XXI century by Platonists such as Amalia González and Giovanni Reale. The Spanish philosopher is not quite certain about the supposed feminism of the author of the Republic and show that, as the late dialogues were being written, platonic antifeminism grew. The Italian philologer finds an essential equality between men and women in Plato, and considers that this author shows revolutionary statements, quite close to feminism Thus, he illustrates the current polemics. He appeals to a cultural analysis developed by some of those who collaborated on the compiled works Philosophy, Culture and Sexual Difference, to untangle the thread that was made up by the value-judgement of women, in the platonic works. Special time is given to Rubí de María Gómez emphasis on the relationship between feminism and cultural analysis and to Graciela Hierros’s contributions on the existence of active women in the history of ancient philosophy.