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Ruth Abbey

From Alfawiki
Ruth Abbey
Born1961
Australia
Occupation(s)Political theorist, scholar
Known forExpertise in modern political theory, history of political thought, feminist political philosophy
Notable workNietzsche's Middle Period, Charles Taylor, The Return of Feminist Liberalism, Feminist Interpretations of John Rawls

Ruth Abbey (b. 1961) is an Australian scholar in political theory, with expertise in modern political theory, the history of political thought, and feminist political philosophy. She held the position of John Cardinal O'Hara, C.S.C. Associate Professor within the Political Science Department at the University of Notre Dame.

Feminist liberalism

In her book The Return of Feminist Liberalism, Abbey examines feminists today who maintain allegiance to liberalism despite enduring feminist critiques. Her analysis centers on figures such as Martha Nussbaum, the late Susan Moller Okin (1946–2004), and the late Jean Hampton (1954–1996), each of whom articulates arguments concerning feminism’s compatibility with liberal principles.

Abbey investigates how these thinkers contend that liberalism provides essential normative frameworks and political mechanisms beneficial for enhancing women's social standing. She evaluates their engagement with prominent feminist challenges to liberalism and identifies distinctions among these feminist-liberals, notwithstanding their common ideological roots. Additionally, Abbey reviews other feminist voices who continue to recognize liberalism’s significance, emphasizing both its potential advantages for women and opportunities to enrich liberal thought by integrating feminist perspectives.

Nietzsche

Abbey’s scholarship on Friedrich Nietzsche concentrates on his middle phase, offering detailed analysis of works like Human, All Too Human, Daybreak, and The Gay Science. Her research sheds light on Nietzsche’s perspectives regarding morality, including themes such as friendship, gender, marriage, egoism, pity, and political issues. One critique in The Review of Metaphysics praised Nietzsche’s Middle Period as a "thoroughly researched...overview of Nietzsche's writings from 1878 to 1882," aiming to underscore the uniqueness and "distinctive value" of this often neglected period.

Since 2003, Abbey has overseen an extensive online bibliography dedicated to philosopher Charles Taylor, a project supported by the University of Kent and the British Academy.

Books

  • Nietzsche's Middle Period (Oxford University Press, 2000)
  • Charles Taylor (Princeton University Press and Acumen Press, UK, 2000)
  • Editor, Contemporary Philosophy in Focus: Charles Taylor (Cambridge University Press, 2004)
  • The Return of Feminist Liberalism (Routledge, 2011)
  • Feminist Interpretations of John Rawls (The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2013)

Articles

  • "Rawlsian Resources for Animal Ethics," Ethics and the Environment Vol. 12, No. 1, Spring 2007
  • "Back Toward a Comprehensive Liberalism? Justice as Fairness, Gender and Families," Political Theory 2007
  • "Turning or Spinning? Charles Taylor's Catholicism," Contemporary Political Theory Vol. 5, No. 2, May 2006
  • "Is Liberalism Now an Essentially Contested Concept?" New Political Science Vol. 27, No. 4, December 2005
  • "Recognizing Taylor Rightly: A Reply to Morag Patrick," Ethnicities 3 (1), March 2003
  • "Pluralism in Practice: The Political Thought of Charles Taylor," Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy Vol. 5, No. 3 (Autumn 2002)
  • "The Articulated Life: An Interview with Charles Taylor," Reason in Practice Vol. 1, No.3, 2001
  • "The Chief Inducement? The Idea of Marriage as Friendship," co-authored with Douglas Den Uyl, Journal of Applied Philosophy Vol. 18, No. 1, 2001
  • "The Roots of Ressentiment: Nietzsche on Vanity," New Nietzsche Studies Vol. 3, nos. 3 & 4, Summer/Fall 1999
  • "Back to the Future: Marriage as Friendship in the thought of Mary Wollstonecraft," Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy 14, 3, Summer 1999
  • "Mediocrity versus Meritocracy: Nietzsche’s (Mis)reading of Chamfort," History of Political Thought Volume XIX, No. 3, Autumn 1998
  • "Nietzsche and the Will to Politics," co-authored with Fredrick Appel, Review of Politics Winter 1998 (January, Vol. 60:1)

Honors and awards

  • Awarded the Leverhulme Research Fellowship by the Leverhulme Trust in 2004
  • Served as Faculty Fellow at the Center for Ethics and Public Affairs, The Murphy Institute, during 2008–2009

External links

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