Philosophical reasoning - Essay Example

Two women have built profound philosophies on the of feminism. They have both taken a journey into reasoning and logic that few people ever truly go on in search of the realities of life. Simone de Beauvoir and Christina Sommers both raise interesting points and arguments, both making clear what equity really refers to and the differences that exist between men and women. Comparing and contrasting Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" and Sommers' "Who Stole Feminism" on their philosophical reasoning on the subject at hand has the ability to enlighten the philosophical mind joining them on their journeys.

Both Beauvoir and Sommers address the issue of feminism from a systematic or topical method in which they tackle philosophy one question at a time. Initially in "The Second Sex", Beauvoir questions first if there even is a problem with feminism. Then she goes on to ask, "Does 'woman' exist" Once she has proved and asserted that "woman" does indeed exist as an entity, Beauvoir goes on to question how "woman" is defined. While defining "woman", she opens herself up to the discovery that "man" and "woman" exist as opposites and therefore, further investigation into why this oppositeness exists is in question.

Likewise in "Who Stole Feminism", Sommers begins with observations on current western culture with, what she calls, a "new" feminist movement alive and growing. After her initial observations, she begins her systematic method of philosophy with the question, "Do women need to be saved by anything" After the introduction of this question, Sommers continues with the approach by offering various views of other philosophers who have reasoned their case regarding feminism. Beauvoir does the same as she looks to the three major topics (biology, psychology, and history) that have previously been raised with the topic of feminism.

She relates the work of various expert philosophers who have walked the road of gender issues years before including Charles Darwin's scientific theories, Sigmund Freud and Alfred Alder's psychoanalysis studies and Friedrich Engels' history of women. Sommers follows Beauvoir's topical approach, yet instead of noting her major topics concisely, she takes the approach of eliciting specific examples on how the recent feminist movement has sensationalized the problem at hand in order to be heard by legislatures and citizens, in general.

Here she begins the necessary task of philosophy by weighing the arguments on both sides of an issue. Sommers presents an argument in support of the "new" feminist movement and then she skillfully presents a rebuttal for the argument or exposes a piece of truth that was originally withheld from the public. She continues her journey throughout "Who Stole Feminism" with this type of argumentative reasoning structure.On the flip side, Beauvoir alternates her arguments back and forth, but gains more depth by constantly comparing and contrasting, making rebuttal after rebuttal to both sides of an argument.

In which case, it is difficult for the reader to entirely comprehend which side of the debate Beauvoir stands. The objectivity of Beauvoir as a philosophical writer is a strength as seen in her argumentative reasoning structure. Beauvoir and Sommers, using the philosophical systematic method, ask a series of questions that elicit reflections which produce responses from themselves. They continue in the tradition of feminist debate in their works, "The Second Sex" and "Who Stole Feminism" Each philosophical writer has their own way of examining reality; one by structure of topics, the other by specific examples.

Both writers use argumentative persuasion to receive positive results from their readers in their philosophy of thought. ReferencesBeauvoir, S. (1949). The Second Sex. In Brannigan, M. C. Ethics Across Cultures: An Introductory Text with Readings (pp. 199-203). New York: McGraw-Hill. Sommers, C. (1995). Who Stole Feminism. In Brannigan, M. C. Ethics Across Cultures: An Introductory Text with Readings (pp. 203-207). New York: McGraw-Hill.