Epistemology: The Enlightenment And Cartesian Perspective

Introduction
Prior to attending the Women’s Studies 5363 Feminist/Womanist Epistemology class, I did not have a clear understand of the distinction between epistemology and methodology. After taking this class, my understanding is much clearer. Epistemology, the philosophy of knowledge or the study of knowledge and belief, is concerned with creation of knowledge, conditions of knowledge, sources of knowledge, structure of knowledge, limits of knowledge, and the distribution of knowledge. Methodology, on the other hand, is how we know what we know, and how can we use knowledge to better understand our world. Understanding this distinction has allowed me become aware of new ways of learning, has helped me open to new ideas, and helped me
I will attempt to think about epistemology in a way that goes beyond the philosophical and
The Enlightenment and Cartesian View
”Philosophy leaves everything as it is…and Feminists, leave nothing as it is…we are always wanting things to be different, and better” (Langton 232).

The Enlightenment (the Age of Reason) revolutionized ideas of human thought and brought a new way of thinking, and reason and logic rather than faith became the standard. Since the Enlightenment the Cartesian epistemology has been consistent enough to be considered mainstream. This epistemology depicts a world in which knowers, though reason, can see external and objective reality, and a world in which there is universal truth. Cartesianism has five main assumptions: first, reality is objective and dependent on human nature; second,
First, Cartesianism does not allow for shared knowledge in a cultural context. Our experiences and how we perceive those experiences shape who we are and what we know. Our families, neighborhoods, social and religious communities, our ethnic group, and our sex can add to or change the cultural impact of society on our individual way of knowing (Harding). This, of course calls into question the idea of objectivism and Descartes theory of truth—how can a knower have access to direct, unfiltered knowledge—value judgments affect understanding of knowledge. Second, the Cartesian knower is male; reason, universality and intellect are characteristics associated with men. The known or the object of knowledge is female; emotion, physicality, connection with nature is associated with women (Fee). Third, like Bruno Latour, I see Descarts’ mind as unnatural, and because it is separate from the body, needing “artificial life support.” I believe this difference creates oppression. Susan Williams states that the premises and dichotomies of Cartesianism do not simply define men and women differently, rather they “create the very foundation for a justification of the oppression of women” (Williams 74). Ms. Williams’statement holds truth for