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History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

HoP 477 The Mind Has No Sex: Cartesianism and Gender

Oct 5, 2025 · 21 min · 12 segments

Why Cartesianism appealed to women and became the inspiration for a pioneering feminist, Poullain de la Barre; and why Cartesianism was not the only option for women philosophers of the age.

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Speakers: Peter AdamsonHost

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalPopularityVery Populartop 5%Audience≈46k followers

Top entities: René Descartes×33 Catherine Descartes×9 Cartesianism×21 Christina of Sweden×12 Anna Maria van Schurman×7

Show open and episode title0:00 – 0:31

Peter AdamsonHost

0:00

[instrumental music] Hi, I'm Peter Adamson, and you're listening to The History of Philosophy Podcast, brought to you with the support of the Philosophy Department at King's College London and the LMU in Munich.

Peter AdamsonHost

0:22

Online at historyofphilosophy.net. Today's episode, The Mind Has No Sex: Cartesianism and Gender.

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René DescartesPersonFrench polymath
99%33 mentions
Catherine DescartesPersonFrench poet and philosopher
97%9 mentions
CartesianismEntity
94%21 mentions
Christina of SwedenPersonFormer Queen of Sweden
92%12 mentions
Anna Maria van SchurmanPersonDutch painter and engraver
90%7 mentions
Cartesian coordinate systemEntity
88%13 mentions
Alain SouchonPersonFrench singer-songwriter and actor
85%2 mentions
François Poullain de la BarrePersonAuthor
83%6 mentions
SapphoPersonAncient Greek poet
81%4 mentions
Madame de SévignéPersonFrench correspondent
78%3 mentions
Madeleine de Souvré, marquise de SabléPersonFrench philosopher and writer
76%1 mention
AristotlePersonGreek philosopher and polymath
74%3 mentions
MindEntity
72%1 mention
Elisabeth of the PalatinatePersonPhilosopher
69%3 mentions
Madeleine de ScudéryPersonFrench writer
67%2 mentions
Pierre BaylePersonFrench philosopher and author
65%3 mentions
Mind–body dualismEntity
63%1 mention
Antoine ArnauldPersonFrench theologian and priest
60%2 mentions
Peter AdamsonPersonAmerican philosopher
58%3 mentions
AristotelianismEntity
56%8 mentions
HumanismEntityStance
53%1 mention
MolièrePersonFrench playwright
51%2 mentions
brainEntity
49%1 mention
ParisCityCapital of France
47%2 mentions
FranceCountryCountry in Europe
44%2 mentions
SwedenCountryCountry in Europe
42%2 mentions
SyllogismEntity
40%1 mention
Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichCollege or UniversityUniversity in Munich, Germany
36%1 mention
MunichCityCity in Germany
36%1 mention
NetherlandsCountryCountry in Europe
33%1 mention
Lucrezia MarinellaPersonPoet and writer
31%1 mention
Les Femmes SavantesBookOne-act by Molière
28%1 mention
Discourse on the MethodBookBook by René Descartes
26%1 mention
Greek languageEntityHuman language
24%1 mention
Marguerite de NavarrePersonAuthor
20%1 mention
Moderata FontePersonVenetian writer
20%1 mention
RenaissanceEventArt period
17%2 mentions
UtrechtCityCity in the Netherlands
15%2 mentions
Jean-Jacques RousseauPersonPhilosopher
11%1 mention
Thomas HobbesPersonPhilosopher
11%1 mention
Gisbertus VoetiusPersonDutch theologian and pastor
8%1 mention
EnglishEntitySpoken language
6%1 mention
Géraud de CordemoyPersonFrench philosopher and historian
2%1 mention
Port-Royal LogicBookTextbook by Antoine Arnauld and Pierre Nicole
2%1 mention

Society
Intellectual HistoryHistory
History of PhilosophyEducation > Philosophy
FeminismSociety > Gender
PhilosophyEducation
Philosophical LiteratureLiterature
Feminist LiteratureLiterature > Philosophical Literature
History of FeminismSociety > Gender > Feminism
17th Century FeminismSociety > Gender > Feminism > History of Feminism
Cartesian PhilosophyEducation > Philosophy > History of Philosophy
Women in PhilosophyEducation > Philosophy > History of Philosophy > Cartesian Philosophy
Salon CultureCulture
Intellectual SalonsCulture > Salon Culture
Women in SalonsCulture > Salon Culture > Intellectual Salons
Influential SalonnièresCulture > Salon Culture > Intellectual Salons > Women in Salons
Women IntellectualsHistory > Intellectual History
Contributions of WomenHistory > Intellectual History > Women Intellectuals
Women and CartesianismHistory > Intellectual History > Women Intellectuals > Contributions of Women
Works on Gender EqualityLiterature > Philosophical Literature > Feminist Literature
François Poullain de la BarreLiterature > Philosophical Literature > Feminist Literature > Works on Gender Equality
History
Education
Culture
Literature
GenderSociety