Arete, Asclepigenia, Axiothea, Cleobulina, Hipparchia, and Lasthenia

Abstract

There are some ancient women philosophers about whom very little is known other than their names. Frequently, these were members of one of the philosophic sects, and they either left no written philosophy, or their writings, and specific information about those writings has been lost. In most cases, the record is very sketchy, and most of our knowledge about these philosophers comes from general information about the philosophic communities of which they were a part, from knowledge of their teachers, or of their students. While little is known about their personal achievements, they can be described as having been part of a philosophic community. They are mentioned here to stimulate further research about them. Many ancient philosophic communities admitted women as active, participating, philosophers and, in some cases as leaders of philosophic schools. This chapter introduces the reader to some of those philosophers.