Republicanism and Feminist Political Philosophy
Considering Freedom’s Fundamental Value
Freedom has been categorized as either positive (active) or negative (passive). Antics emphasized citizens’ freedom to participate in government, while moderns prioritize a sphere of action free from interference. A specific concept of freedom is freedom as non-domination. The freedom provided by law is not unlimited, but it guarantees against interference in your life and opinions. Outside the law, there is no freedom. This restriction is acceptable because the law constitutes freedom, not just because it provides benefits, as liberalism suggests. Society curtails some freedoms; humans are naturally free, but society makes us free Republicans. Which law provides freedom? The institutions of a republican and democratic political community.
2 Republican Tradition and Modern Democracy
Although the republican tradition has faced challenges, modern republicanism is anti-elitist and holds a reflexive and active conception of democracy, aiming to improve political life. Pettit (Canadian philosopher) argues: “A government is democratic to the extent that the people (individually or collectively) enjoy the possibility of permanent dispute of government decisions.” This is a democracy where citizens engage in thoughtful deliberation. Following tradition, it prioritizes controlling power, achieved through multiple, diffuse institutions. This requires a compromise and a dose of civic virtue, fostering an active citizenry.
3 Challenges and Adaptations of Republicanism
Republicanism has been accused of being anachronistic, but it has sought realistic answers for contemporary society. Citizen participation is not seen as a denial of individual interests (like in communism), but as a public concern for shared matters. Individual purposes are linked to the republic. The basis of public virtue and civic participation is the linking of particular interests to the common good. Republicanism has been criticized for its conception of community, seen as close to communitarianism, but it includes a shared culture. The republican community is constituted by laws and institutions built by the will of the citizenry, making it open and pluralistic. It is a political community, not an ethical one.
Feminist Contributions to Citizenship
1. Review of Classical Political Philosophy: Three conclusions emerge:
- a) Western thought is based on a political concept that excludes women.
- b) The arguments of thinkers are only applicable to men.
- c) The concept of home is associated with reason and culture (characterizing the public sector), while women are associated with emotion and nature (characterizing the private sphere).
2. Theory Proposal: A feminist political philosophy must address the private sphere. We analyze and review concepts that could be called “attributes of persons or individuals” (rationality), often male-centric, and reformulate them. We also analyze categories related to political theory.
2 Three Perspectives of Feminist Theory
Liberal Feminist Theory: This theory differs from general liberalism in its view of universal human experience. Feminist theory argues there is no single human nature. It focuses on the subordination due to unfair discrimination against women. Its proposal is equality with men, hence it’s also called equality feminism. Equality can be achieved by restructuring society so men and women share the same responsibilities in public and private.
Marxist and Socialist Feminist Theories: These theories share the notion of human nature as shaped by the dialectical relationship between biology, the physical environment, and human society. Differences arise in analyzing the causes of subordination:
- Socialists: It’s due to a combination of capitalism and patriarchy.
- Marxists: While not excluding the above, they focus on class exploitation.
Radical Feminist Theory: Key features include:
- Systematic reflection on the policy relevance of human reproductive biology.
- The idea that female biology is fundamental to the sexual division of labor.
- The important role of culture and socialization; women “are made, not born.”
The basic cause of subordination is patriarchy. This theory considers a radical reconstruction of society necessary. Differences with other movements:
- a) Liberal: Oppression cannot be eliminated by reforming laws to allow men and women to share responsibilities.
- b) Marxist and Socialist: Equality cannot be achieved solely by sharing political and economic institutions.
Proposal: The proposed citizenship is “separation.” This means that actions, political organizations, etc., must be separated from men, at least temporarily, until significant changes are made.