The Philosophical Imaginary - by Michele Le Doeuff (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The Philosophical Imaginary teaches us how to read philosophy afresh. Focusing on central, but often undiscussed, images, Le Doeuff's patient, perspicacious, and always brilliant readings show us how to uncover the political unconscious at work in great philosophy. Le Doeuff's contribution to philosophy and feminism is unequalled. This book is a classic."

Book Synopsis

A Stanford University Press classic.

Review Quotes

"Le Doeuff dares to challenge the idea that philosophy can be separated from myth, literature and 'the image'. She shows not only that philosophers do 'think in images', but that there exists a specifically 'philosophical imaginary'. Her readings of Descartes, Kant, More and others show how acknowledging this reliance on 'the image' has the capacity to enrich philosophy by opening it up to continuities with everyday life. The manner in which these essays treat important ethical, epistemological and political questions has led the way for the radical reform of the practice of philosophy." Moira Gatens

"The Philosophical Imaginary teaches us how to read philosophy afresh. Focusing on central, but often undiscussed, images, Le Doeuff's patient, perspicacious, and always brilliant readings show us how to uncover the political unconscious at work in great philosophy. Le Doeuff's contribution to philosophy and feminism is unequalled. This book is a classic." Toril Moi

"Le Doeuff dares to challenge the idea that philosophy can be separated from myth, literature and 'the image.' She shows not only that philosophers do 'think in images', but that there exists a specifically 'philosophical imaginary'. Her readings of Descartes, Kant, More and others show how acknowledging this reliance on 'the image' has the capacity to enrich philosophy by opening it up to continuities with everyday life. The manner in which these essays treat important ethical, epistemological and political questions has led the way for the radical reform of the practice of philosophy."

"The Philosophical Imaginary teaches us how to read philosophy afresh. Focusing on central, but often undiscussed, images, i.e Doeuff's patient, perspicacious, and always brilliant readings show us how to uncover the political unconscious at work in great philosophy. Le Doeuff's contribution to philosophy and feminism is unequalled. This book is a classic."

About the Author

Michele Le Doeuff is a Director of Research in Philosophy at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris and has been Professor of Women's Studies at the University of Geneva.