Fall Forum 2024, New Haven – Connecticut: Dr. Pedro Pricladnitzky – Education and Emancipation in Brazilian Women Philosophers 

As part of the SCSU Fall Forum 2024, Dr. Pedro Pricladnitzky, Research Associate at the Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists (Paderborn University, Germany), will present “Education and Emancipation in Brazilian Women Philosophers.”

Dr. Pricladnitzky’s talk will explore the overlooked contributions of Brazilian women philosophers in the fight for education and emancipation, focusing on their role in shaping 19th-century intellectual movements.

Date: October 11, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Adanti Student Center, Room 301

Education and Emancipation in Brazilian Women Philosophers

Abstract: The 19th century in Brazil was a transformative period marked by significant political, social, and cultural changes, including the abolition of slavery and the emergence of Brazilian republic. Amid these shifts, Brazilian women philosophers began to articulate their voices within a predominantly male intellectual sphere. Though often overlooked by mainstream histories of philosophy, these women contributed important ideas on education, emancipation, and social justice, reflecting the broader struggles of their time.

This paper examines the work of pioneering Brazilian women philosophers who addressed key issues of gender, race, and class in their writings. Many of these thinkers, including Nísia Floresta (1810-1885) and Josefina Álvares de Azevedo (1851-1913), emerged as advocates for women’s rights and education reform, drawing on European Enlightenment ideals while adapting them to the realities of Brazilian society. The two authors mentioned, in particular, played a crucial role in advancing feminist thought, advocating for the inclusion of women in public life and education, and questioning traditional patriarchal structures.

Through the exploration of their texts, this research sheds light on how these philosophers navigated and critiqued the societal constraints of the time, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of gender, colonialism, and philosophy in 19th-century Brazil. By recovering these “lost voices,” we gain a deeper understanding of the intellectual contributions of Brazilian women to global philosophical discourse and their influence on the feminist movements of the 20th century.