There is little doubt that the most well known and influential intellectual in the twentieth century was Simone de Beauvoir. She is known for her books such as Indecision and Desire, and The Door Between. She has been described as a social philosopher, an existentialist philosopher, and a feminist philosopher. The label ‘intellectual’ can be loosely applied to a lot of people in the 20th century.
Feminists generally view philosophy in two ways. Some view philosophy as a structured set of ideas and concepts, a logical progression from other ideas and concepts. Some view philosophy as an extension of their political beliefs and identity with the larger human species. One can be an intellectual feminist and still be a feminist. A feminist intellectual may also reject the very concept of gender, viewing it as a human invention that benefits men over women.
The concept of “feminism” was first used by the French Revolution and later became associated with the enlightenment. By the time of the American enlightenment, however, the meaning of the term had become more specific. It denoted a progressive political and social movement, typically led by educated women, that sought to end sexist social norms. Many theorists of the time considered the enlightenment as the height of female empowerment and used the example of Descartes’ famous quote that” Females are so equal to men that they cannot act or desire to associate with one half of the human race.”
For these reasons, many consider SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY to be a feminist philosopher. SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY was born in 1839 in France, the daughter of a French philosopher. She was described as a fiery, lively, and outspoken young woman who spoke out against the social stigmas associated with being a girl. SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY was an outspoken and respected French philosopher and social critic who became known for her controversial writings on gender roles, politics, and religion. Following her death, she was posthumously awarded the title of “Dame de Boeuf bourlon” or “Old Maid of Beaugency”.
One of SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY’s more famous works is “Simone,” which she wrote while serving as a professional philosopher at Le Louvre in Paris. This collection of her writings, which can be found in several different places, is a philosophical investigation into how we experience pleasure. As she pointed out, philosophers often only discuss the effects of pleasure on the mind, but not the body. SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY looked at how pleasure affects the body, and how this affects philosophy, art, science, religion, psychology, literature, politics, ethics, sociology, and other areas of study.
Following SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY’s death, generations of students have dedicated themselves to continuing her work. Many have taken on the task of writing a new edition of SIMONE, with the aim of extending it to include topics not covered by DE BEAUNFROY. The philosophy of Feminism is often referred to as “intersectionality,” since it includes elements of intersectional, social theory, queering science, and anti-racism. Writing about issues of importance to Feminists is not easy, and is usually a long process. However, SIMONE and other works by SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY deserve our appreciation for their dedication to educating students and future philosophy and political scientists.
Among other works, SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY co-authored a book entitled “Sartre’s Way: Philosophy and Sartre’s Activism.” The book traces the development of Sartre’s radical politics, which included the boycott, divestiture, and withdrawal from the World War I conscientious resolution. The book concludes by contrasting Sartre’s radical politics with the more conservative views held by mainstream feminism.
The death of SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY thrusts the issue of philosophical thought into the center stage of modern society. The anniversary of her death, in June of this year, will mark the one hundred anniversary of the start of the first world war. The anniversary will serve as a timely commemoration of the life and work of SIMONE DE BEAUNFROY, who remains among the most influential of all continental philosophers.