| Aquinas, Feminism, and the Common Good Contributor(s): Decrane, Susanne M. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0878403493 ISBN-13: 9780878403493 Publisher: Georgetown University Press OUR PRICE: $59.35 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: January 2004 Annotation: To dismiss the work of philosophers and theologians of the past because of their limited perceptions of the whole of humankind is tantamount to tossing the tot out with the tub water. Such is the case when feminist scholars of religion and ethics confront Thomas Aquinas, whose views of women can only be described as misogynistic. Rather than dispense with him, Susanne DeCrane seeks to engage Aquinas and reflect his otherwise compelling thought through the prism of feminist theology, hermeneutics, and ethics.Focusing on one of Aquinas's great intellectual contributions, the fundamental notion of "the common good" -- in short, the human will toward peace and justice -- DeCrane demonstrates the currency of that notion through a contemporary social issue: women's health care in the United States and, specifically, black women and breast cancer. In her skillful re-engagement with Aquinas, DeCrane shows that certain aspects of religious traditions heretofore understood as oppressive to women and minority groups can actually be parsed, "retrieved," and used to rectify social ills. Aquinas, Feminism, and the Common Good is a bold and intellectually rigorous feminist retrieval of an important text by a Catholic scholar seeking to remain in the tradition, while demanding that the tradition live up to its emphasis on human equity and justice. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Christian Theology - General - Social Science | Women's Studies |
| Dewey: 230.208 |
| LCCN: 2003019457 |
| Series: Moral Traditions (Paperback) |
| Physical Information: 0.73" H x 5.48" W x 8.44" (0.70 lbs) 220 pages |
| Themes: - Sex & Gender - Feminine - Religious Orientation - Christian |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: What can feminist scholars of religion and ethics do with the imposing figure of Thomas Aquinas, whose views of women can be only be described as misogynistic? Rather than dispense with him altogether, DeCrane seeks to take one of Thomas's great intellectual contributions to religious thought, the fundamental notion of the common good--in short, peace and justice--and use that as a lens through which to view a contemporary social issue: women's health care in the United States and, specifically, black women and breast cancer. In retrieving Thomas's principle of the common good, DeCrane hopes to show that certain aspects of religious traditions heretofore understood as oppressive to women and minority groups can actually be invoked to help rectify social ills. In making her claims DeCrane offers a helpful summary of three contemporary feminist authors--Sandra Schneiders (scripture interpretation), Rosemary Radford Ruether (theology), and Martha Nussbaum (philosophy)--as she builds a feminist method for retrieving texts. The strength of her work lies in making a case for this process of retrieval, and not so much in arguing against the injustices of the U.S. health care system. Still, this is a bold attempt by a feminist Catholic scholar who seeks to remain within the tradition--while demanding that the tradition live up to its emphasis on justice. |