Misogyny, the male malady: philosophical and literary postulates of the ancient world and its medieval legacy - doi: 10.4025/actascilangcult.v35i1.16826

Abstract

This work examines some of the most significant philosophical and literary postulates which can be considered as fundamental to the formation of the misogynous tradition in the culture, mentality and literature of Western Europe. Predominantly belonging to the field of philosophy, nevertheless, some of these postulates are in works which distinguish themselves not only due to their philosophical perspective but also because of the formal and stylistic treatment which characterizes the esthetic and literary aspect of such works. One of them are Aristotle’s studies about the woman physiology, where he reduced her role in the procreation to that of prime matter awaiting the forming and moving agency of the male semen. This Aristotelian consideration certainly substantiated an unpleasing equation between woman and matter, which found support in the religious thinking of the Middle Ages. In a comparative and critical manner, the work points out and discusses basilar ideas of the European misogynous tradition by means of a selection and quotation from authors of the ancient world and from medieval religious writing.