Declamation on the Nobility and Preeminence of the Female Sex
Rather than directly refuting prevailing wisdom, Agrippa uses women's superiority as a rhetorical device and overturns the misogynistic interpretations of the female body in Greek medicine, in the Bible, in Roman and canon law, in theology and moral philosophy, and in politics. He raised the question of why women were excluded and provided answers based not on sex but on social conditioning, education, and the prejudices of their more powerful oppressors. His declamation, disseminated through the printing press, illustrated the power of that new medium, soon to be used to generate a larger reformation of religion.
“The influence of Agrippa’s work throughout the sixteenth century was enormous and continued to be significant in the seventeenth century.”
“The translation is a vigorous and reliable version of the original Latin text and Rabil provides extensive textual notes which cast light not only on Agrippa’s citations but also on his probably sources. . . . Both readers interested in the history of women and readers concerned with the general intellectual history of the sixteenth century will find this a welcome addition to the body of texts available in English.”
Foreword
Note on the Text
Abbreviations
Agrippa and the Feminist Tradition
Suggestions for Further Reading
Declamation on the Nobility and Preeminence of the Female Sex
Index of Biblical References
General Index
Philosophy: General Philosophy
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