In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Benjamin Lipscomb about four women philosophers in the early 20th century who revolutionized ethical studies. They discuss how he came to write this book and how these four women came to know each other and discuss ethics. They talk about how facts and values are different and the towering presence of Aristotle's philosophy. They describe the environment of Oxford in the 1920s and how much misogyny and sexism played a part in academia during this period. They discuss the life and philosophy of Iris Murdoch, Anscombe's philosophy and the impact of Wittgenstein, the philosophy of Philippa Foot, and contributions of Mary Midgley to philosophy and other fields of study. They also mention whether these women saw themselves as feminists and their legacy within philosophy.
Benjamin Lipscomb is a professor of philosophy and Director of the Honors Program at Houghton College where he specializes in ethical theory and history of philosophy. He has his PhD from the University of Notre Dame and is active in his religious community. His book, The women are up to something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionize Ethics can be found here.
#104 - Four Women Who Revolutionized Ethics: A Dialogue with Benjamin Lipscomb