- Women also shaped the development of philosophy. Although their writings did not survive, their verbal teaching made a significant impact on their contemporaries.
- Aspasia of Miletus (most active around 400 BC) was the most famous female philosopher in Classical Athens.
- Recalling the wisdom of ancient women both expands our view of history and reminds us of the gendered elements of modern complex thought.
When we think about ancient Greek philosophers we tend to imagine old men as the deep thinkers. But women too have helped shape modern thought.
Ancient Greek philosophers
When we conjure up ancient Greek philosophers the image that springs to mind might be a bald Socrates discoursing with young men in the sun, or a scholarly Aristotle lecturing among cool columns.
But what about Aspasia, the foreign mistress of the foremost politician in Athens who gave both political and erotic advice?
Or Sosipatra, the mystic, mother and Neoplatonist who was a more popular teacher than her husband, Eustathius?
Women also shaped the development of philosophy. Although their writings, by and large do not survive, their verbal teaching made a significant impact on their contemporaries, and their voices echo through the ages.
More than two millennia later, intelligent women still struggle to have their own voices heard. Six ancient female philosophers you should know about
1. Aspasia of Miletus
Aspasia of Miletus (most active around 400 BC) was the most famous female philosopher in Classical Athens — or should we say infamous?
Although a foreigner, she became the mistress of Pericles, the leader of Athens at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War.
She was not only remembered for her captivating beauty, but also for her captivating mind.
Socrates himself called Aspasia his teacher and relates he learned from her how to construct persuasive speeches. After all, he tells us, she wrote them for Pericles.
She plays a verbal role in at least three philosophical dialogues written by students of Socrates: Plato’s Menexenus and the fragmentary Aspasia dialogues by Aeschines and Antisthenes.
2. Clea
Clea (most active around 100 AD) was a priestess at Delphi — one of the most esteemed female philosophers in the ancient world.
The religious practitioners at the shrine received frequent requests from world leaders for divine advice about political matters.
Clea was part of this political-religious system, but she believed in the primary importance of philosophy.
She found many opportunities for in-depth philosophical conversations with Plutarch, the most famous intellectual of his time.
Plutarch tells us in the prefaces to On the Bravery of Women and On Isis and Osiris how these invigorating conversations on death, virtue and religious history inspired his own work.
3. Thecla
When she first appears on the scene in the Acts of Paul and Thecla, Thecla (most active around 1st century AD) is leading a normal middle class life, sequestered at home and about to make an advantageous marriage.
But leaning out of her balcony, she hears the dynamic preaching of Paul and decides on a radically different path.
She follows Paul around, resists a variety of amorous advances and survives being thrown to carnivorous seals in the arena.
Finally, she is confirmed as a teacher in her own right and begins an illustrious career.
Although it’s been speculated Thecla never really existed, her legend inspired many women to pursue a life of philosophy.
Some 250 years later, Methodius of Olympus wrote a philosophical dialogue full of women, with Thecla as the star participant, and Macrina (see below) was given a family nickname of Thecla, inspired by her philosophical and religious mission.
4. Sosipatra
Sosipatra (most active around the 4th century AD) lived the dream: she had a successful teaching career along with a content family life.
After an education in mysticism by foreigners, Sosipatra became a respected teacher in the Neoplatonic tradition, interpreting difficult texts and mediating divine knowledge.
She was surrounded by male experts, one of whom was her husband Eustathius.
But according to Eunapius’ biography in his Lives of the Greek Philosophers, her fame was greater than any of theirs, and students far preferred her inspiring teaching.
5. Macrina the Younger
Macrina (circa 330-379 AD) was the oldest of ten in an expansive, influential well-educated Christian family in Cappadocia.
She kept the family together through her sharp mind, devout soul and strong will, ultimately transforming her ancestral estate into a successful community of male and female ascetics.
Her brother, Gregory of Nyssa, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, commemorated her wisdom both in a biography “Life of Macrina” and also in a philosophical dialogue “On the Soul and Resurrection.”
The latter depicted a conversation about death between the siblings as Macrina lay dying, in which she displays wide knowledge in philosophy, scripture and the physical sciences.
6. Hypatia of Alexandria
Most famous for her dramatic death at the hands of a Christian mob, the female philosopher Hypatia (circa 355–415 AD) was a Neoplatonic teacher admired for her mathematical and astronomical works.
One of her successful students, the Christian bishop Synesius, wrote glowing letters to her, exchanging information not only about philosophy but also about obscure mathematical instruments.
She edited her father Theon’s astronomical commentary, which he acknowledged at publication.
Recalling the wisdom of ancient women both expands our view of history and reminds us of the gendered elements of modern complex thought.
This is particularly true in the field of philosophy, which consistently rates as one of the most gender-imbalanced in the humanities in modern universities.
The ancient world found space to include female philosophers — and so must we.
Did you subscribe to our Newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe.
Source: Greek Reporter
