Love and knowledge: Emotion in feminist epistemology

Alison M. Jaggar*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

248 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper argues that, by construing emotion as epistemologically subversive, the Western tradition has tended to obscure the vital role of emotion in the construction of knowledge. The paper begins with an account of emotion that stresses its active, voluntary, and socially constructed aspects, and indicates how emotion is involved in evaluation and observation. It then moves on to show how the myth of dispassionate investigation has functioned historically to undermine the epistemic authority of women as well as other social groups associated culturally with emotion. Finally, the paper sketches some ways in which the emotions of underclass groups, especially women, may contribute to the development of a critical social theory.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)151-176
Number of pages26
JournalInquiry
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy

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