Cognition and Eros

Robin May Schott is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Louisville.

“In her interesting and provocative book, Robin May Schott focuses our attention on two central themes emerging from the context of an examination of sexual relations in which philosophy has operated. First, she asks the reader to wonder about the philosophical significance of the historical absence of women from philosophy, and, second, to consider the social implications of a philosophy constructed on this basis. Her conclusions are to see the suppression of the erotic theme of human existence from philosophical contemplation to be an expression of a philosophical response to morality; women have been viewed not only in terms of their life-giving sexuality, but also to embody the threat of death as well.”—Canadian Philosophical Reviews