Plato (or Socrates) the first feminist?

Folks,

Hope your reading is going well.

In section 451d (or page 1079 in our edition), Socrates starts a discussion about why women should have all the same jobs as men. He states clearly that gender should not be the determining factor but rather whether someone is suited to do the job.

“There is no way of life concerned with the management of the city that belongs to a woman because she’s a woman or to a man because he’s a man…”

I don’t know of any other extended written dialogue about the equality of women that precedes Plato.

Happy weekend,

Phil

15. September 2008 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Plato | Tags: | 1 comment

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