A Comparative Study on the Meaning of Woman in Kant’s, Fichte’s and Hegel’s Philosophical Theory (2018.06)

• Authors : Chiwon Choi
• Journal : 21st Century Political Science Review
• Publisher : The 21st Century Political Science Association
• Volume : 28(2)
• Publication Date : June, 2018
• Abstract : In philosophy of Kant, Fichte, and Hegel, there is a tension between an idea of universal human equality and gender equality. Kant’s philosophy is considered to have completed the idea of enlightenment but full of contradiction because there is no concept of woman in it. In the case of Fichte, unlike Kant, there are positive aspects in understanding the woman. However, these aspects are cancelled out by the way he assigns too high a value to the man. In Hegel, there remains the philosophical idea of Kant and Fichte, who discriminated women and separated women from the public world. Furthermore, there is only a scanty place for women in his concept of ‘Geist’ that is directed toward the denial of the existing order and the change of the world. Without considering such theoretical tensions, Kant’s, Fichte’s and Hegel’s philosophical ideas (such as universal human rights, universal principles of human being, universal freedom and independence and autonomy of human being, public liberty, humanity, mutual recognition, free and equal citizens, dignity, morality or moral obligation, public use of reason, common legislation, world citizens, etc.) cannot be critically grasped.

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