On November 28, 2024, Ruth Edith Hagengruber, Director of the Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists  organized a workshop with the kind support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), New Delhi, titled “ECO_TECH_GENDER/Women Philosophers Heritage Collection”.

FES India has long been a key player in promoting initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between academic discourse and societal impact, especially in areas such as gender justice, sustainability and the role of technology in shaping a just future. This event will look at the connections between economics, ecology and technology, highlighting the contributions of women philosophers in these fields.

Spotlight on Theresa T. Payongayong and Jeanette L. Yasol-Naval, from the University of the Philippines (UP).

Both professors were honored as part of the One U.P. Professorial Crant Awardees (2022-2024), recognizing their outstanding contributions to teaching and public service.

Professor Ma. Theresa T. Payongayong specializes in feminist philosophy, philosophy for children and Filipino philosophy. Her works include the textbook “Sophia: An Introduction to Philosophy” (2018) and the book she co-authored “Pamimilosopiya: Mga Pagdulog at Konsepto” (2011). In 2009, she received a special award from the United Nations Population Fund for the animated film “Si Leo ang Batang Lito”, which she wrote. Her scholarly articles, such as “Reflexive-Liberative Filipino Feminist Ethics” (2020), reflect her commitment to feminist discourse.

In January 2024, Professor Payongayong delivered an online lecture as part of the “1000 Places in 1 World” event series, a collaboration of intercultural and intercontinental partners. Its aim is to revive, interpret and preserve the cultural and intellectual heritage of women, organized by the Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists titled “The Status and Role of Filipino Women Through History,” where she underscored her commitment to understanding the evolving role of women in Philippine society. Watch her lecture here:

Professor Jeanette L. Yasol-Naval is a faculty member at the UP Diliman Department of Philosophy. Her research interests include ethics, applied ethics, and ancient philosophy. She is co-author of “Pamimilosopiya: Mga Pagdulog at Konsepto” (2011) together with Professor Payongayong. In 2021, she co-authored “Sustainable COVID-19 Response Measures: An Ethical Imperative for Enhancing Core Human Capabilities”, in which she provides ethical considerations during the pandemic.

Spotlight on Asha Mukherjee

Asha Mukherjee will participate in the discussion “Women and environmental issues in the concepts of Indian politics of tomorrow” via Zoom. She is a former professor of philosophy at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, India, and a Post-Doctoral Fulbright Fellow at Bloomington Indiana University in the USA. Her areas of expertise include analytic ethics, logic, gender studies, the academic study of religion, and applied ethics. She has published over 100 articles and 7 books, served as a visiting professor abroad, and participated in more than a hundred conferences. Additionally, she is a member of various academic committees. Currently, she serves as an advisor to the RVP in Washington and is a member of the Steering Committee of FISP. At the last World Congress of Philosophy, held from August 1 to 8, 2024, in Rome, she co-chaired the Ethics Committee.

Spotlight on the Collective for Women Philosophers and Scientists

The Collective for Women Philosophers in India (CWPI) is a pioneering initiative dedicated to highlighting and promoting the contributions of Indian women philosophers across history. It aims to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary philosophical thought, with a strong focus on gender perspectives. By fostering collaboration among scholars, researchers, and institutions, CWPI works to revive and integrate women’s voices into philosophical discourse, addressing critical global issues like gender justice, ecology, and ethics. The Collective also emphasizes education, research, and outreach to ensure that women’s philosophical heritage is recognized and celebrated both in India and globally. Their talk at the Workshop will highlight the connections between ancient, modern and contemporary philosophical thought. More information about the collective and its work can be found here.