IDE2038 – Women in the History of Ideas

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

There are a number of significant women in the history of ideas. Yet they have often been marginalized, ignored or forgotten. But the wind has turned: There is now an ever-increasing interest in women’s contributions to the extensive history of knowledge, from antiquity to modern times. In this course you will get acquainted with key female thinkers. What questions have women been concerned with? How have they interpreted the society around them, and what have been their solutions to contemporary challenges? The curriculum consists of political, religious, philosophical and literary texts written by women. The texts reflect their intellectual breadth and social and political engagement through different periods. The course thus contributes to a richer understanding of the history of ideas and a more nuanced picture of the canon, which has traditionally consisted of men.

Learning outcome

The overall aim of the course is to:

  • Provide you with knowledge about significant women in the history of ideas
  • Provide you with and understanding of a number of issues that intellectual women were concerned with in early modern Europe.
  • Develop your skills in reading and analysing primary sources in various genres and locating them in a historical framework
  • Develop your skills in creating your own title and argument for the semester assignment in consultation with your teacher
  • Develop your skills in historical interpretation and textual analysis
  • Develop your skills in presenting texts and ideas and raising relevant questions in an historical context.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Overlapping courses

Teaching