Classic Moral Theories Extras

Following the Farisian tradition of listing vocabulary found in reading that I didn’t know (or wasn’t 100% sure of the definition), here is my list of words from reading Harriet Taylor Mill, Harriet Martineau, and Marie-Olympes de Gouges. As a bonus, I’ve included the outside concepts that were used in the readings (like the Treaty of Cambrai).

amanuensis – someone employed to write from diction or copy manuscript
profundity – being profound or deep
fervid – extreme intensity or fervor
eloquence – forceful or persuasive expressiveness
dereliction – intentional abandonment
turpitude – inherently base, depraved
pecuniary – relating to money
insuperable – incapable of being overcome
abnegation – denial, esp. self-denial
sedulous – diligent, careful perseverance
inculcate – implant, teach by repetition
abjure – abstain, avoid, renounce or reject
obloquy – discredited, condemnation
acharnement – savage fierceness, ferocity
effrontery – shameless boldness, insolence
verbiage – profusion of words with little or obscure content
artifice – clever or cunning tactics
mens divinior – Heaven/Divine mind

Radicals/Chartists in England -

Reformers from the mid-19th century Britain who advocated for political reform, including “universal suffrage” for any male over the age of 21, the abolition of the property requirement to be a member of Parliament, pay for Parliament members, and a yearly Parliament session. While initially losing, most all of their reforms (except for the yearly Parliament session) have been enacted. Harriet Taylor Mill takes objection to the Chartists for believing in universal male suffrage, and accuses those who do not advocate for the enfranchisement of women as merely “… a Chartist oly because he is not a lord: he is one of those levellers who would level only down to themselves.” (p. 96-97 of the essay “Enfranchisement of Women,” from Essays on Sex and Equality, Alice S. Rossi, ed.)

Treaty of Cambrai (also: Paix des Dames, Peace of the Ladies) -

The Treaty of Cambrai ended a war between the French and the Hapsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire. It was negotiated by the aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor and the mother of the French King. Thus, the Peace of the Ladies. Mill uses this as a refutation of the notion that women aren’t fit for politics. (p. 102, ibid)

Patient Griselda –

Old tale about a patient wife who, upon marrying her husband, agrees to be obedient to him at all times. He sends away their two children, and then divorces her. She’s obedient the entire time, even offering to help plan the wedding with his new wife, and in the end her reward is being reunited with her children and being by her husbands side once more. Mill uses the story as an example of how women are trained into submission and subjugation, and women who didn’t want enfranchisement were merely acting out their socially conditioned oppression, which operates on the edge of their awareness. (p. 119, ibid)