The Case for Malebranche’s Feminist Potential

Abstract Can Nicolas Malebranche be usefully understood as a feminist thinker and, if so, in what ways? While Malebranche remains a major figure in early modern European philosophy, it is not obvious that he was a feminist ally, particularly in comparison to some of his canonical brethren. In this chapter, the author explores the case for Malebranche’s feminist potential. She argues that Malebranche might not have thought of himself as a feminist, but that his work is importantly consistent with historical feminist projects in ways that suggest he can be fruitfully understood as a part of the history of feminist philosophy. This chapter argues that several elements of his philosophical thought are consistent with feminist projects both historical and contemporary.