Zhi and Knowing Harding as a Feminist: Confuciaun - Daoist Engagements with Feminist Standpoint Epistemology

This thesis engages with the responses of Chinese philosophy to feminist standpoint epistemology (FSE). More specifically, it asks on what grounds Confucian and Daoist accounts of knowing deal with the Western feminist implications that being part of a social struggle is what constitutes a standpoint. Through the analysis of two Confucian and one Daoist perspective on Sandra Harding’s account of FSE, I argue that the three perspectives distinguish their account for situatedness of knowledge from a commitment to achieving a standpoint through social struggle. This reveals the possibility for a reconsideration of the notion of “feminist” when engaging FSE. I propose that a shared open ground to reflect on feminist achievements for standpoints is possible without moulding Chinese philosophical considerations into a struggle that reduces their concepts into a Western account of gender. I aim to present that in reflecting on Hardingʼs efforts as a feminist, the connection between Chinese...Show moreThis thesis engages with the responses of Chinese philosophy to feminist standpoint epistemology (FSE). More specifically, it asks on what grounds Confucian and Daoist accounts of knowing deal with the Western feminist implications that being part of a social struggle is what constitutes a standpoint. Through the analysis of two Confucian and one Daoist perspective on Sandra Harding’s account of FSE, I argue that the three perspectives distinguish their account for situatedness of knowledge from a commitment to achieving a standpoint through social struggle. This reveals the possibility for a reconsideration of the notion of “feminist” when engaging FSE. I propose that a shared open ground to reflect on feminist achievements for standpoints is possible without moulding Chinese philosophical considerations into a struggle that reduces their concepts into a Western account of gender. I aim to present that in reflecting on Hardingʼs efforts as a feminist, the connection between Chinese accounts of how knowing (zhi) is present in the effort of action (wei) or non-action (wu-wei). For this, I draw on Michael Beaneyʼs concept of ʽknowing-asʼ as an appropriate concept for Chinese philosophical engagement with epistemology, leading to deeper conversations in intercultural engagements.Show less

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Zhi and Knowing Harding as a Feminist: Confuciaun - Daoist Engagements with Feminist Standpoint Epistemology