I have been reading about feminist epistemology and I wanted to ask the class what they thought.
There are many aspects to feminist epistemology, but the one upon which I would like to focus is the claim that there is a sort of "feminine cognitive style and mode of knowledge." Supposedly, the central concept of feminist epistemology is that of a situated knower, and thus of situated knowledge. That is, knowledge that reflects the particular perspectives of the subject. What confuses me is how knowledge would do such a thing. To know something is to hold a belief that is true, and that you are justified in holding. In short, Knowledge = Justified, True, Belief. Perspective might shape beliefs; the fact of which beliefs we hold and why might be an artifact of such individual specifics. This, though, would not be reflected in our knowledge, for the justification and truth criteria would likely not reflect such specifics as the gender of the person holding the belief.
These are but some precritical ramblings. What do you think about feminist epistemology. Is there a feminine cognitive style and mode of knowledge?
