Women of Ideas: Interviews from Philosophy Bites

In this enlightening work, Finn, a philosophy lecturer at the University of London, compiles a “tasting menu” of women philosophers who have been interviewed on the Philosophy Bites podcast. Finn notes that philosophy has “the lowest representation of women in any discipline outside of science, technology, and engineering,” and, from the outset, the book nods to women’s issues, with a number of responses to “what is it like being a woman in philosophy?” (In true philosophical form, the answers vary greatly.) A wide range of intriguing philosophical inquiries is covered, including animal rights, aesthetics, and the appropriateness of swearing. For instance, Elisabeth Schelleken Dammann questions notions of “true” and “objective” in aesthetic judgments versus the natural sciences, while Katherine Hawley explores notions of trustworthiness based on gender assumptions. A basic knowledge of Western philosophy will aid readers, but the interviewees do an admirable job of communicating their ideas with clarity and conveying why these issues should matter to a layperson. Those interested in dipping their toes into philosophical waters would do well to peruse these bite-size takes. (July)