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The Strategic Naturalism of Sandra Harding's Feminist Standpoint Epistemology

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The Strategic Naturalism of Sandra Harding's Feminist Standpoint Epistemology University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School March 2018 The trS ategic Naturalism of Sandra Harding's Feminist Standpoint Epistemology: A Path Toward Epistemic Progress Dahlia Guzman University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Epistemology Commons, and the Philosophy of Science Commons Scholar Commons Citation Guzman, Dahlia, "The trS ategic Naturalism of Sandra Harding's Feminist Standpoint Epistemology: A Path Toward Epistemic Progress" (2018). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7626 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Strategic Naturalism of Sandra Harding’s Feminist Standpoint Epistemology: A Path Toward Epistemic Progress by Dahlia Guzman A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Philosophy College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Alex Levine, Ph.D. Stephen Turner, Ph.D. Joanne Waugh, Ph.D. Wei Zhang, Ph.D. Date of Approval: February 22, 2018 Keywords: Quine, feminist philosophy of science, feminist epistemology, critical theory Copyright © 2018, Dahlia Guzman ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation is a culmination of sorts, but I believe it is more aptly described as another harvest for me. I’ve learned so much. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Alex Levine for his good humor, hard work, and patience. Without his guidance, I’d be way out in the weeds! I thank my professors and colleagues from UTPA and Kent State University for preparing me so well. I thank my wonderful family and friends who encouraged me and supported me throughout this crazy and exhilarating process, and forgave my absence from so much. I especially thank my USF colleagues who, over the past six years, mentored me, tutored me, fed me, bought me beers, propped me up, made me laugh, and kept me going. You all know who you are; I’m lucky to know you. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Introduction ......................................................................................................................................1 Chapter One: Modern and Quinean Naturalized Epistemologies ..................................................16 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................16 Modern Epistemology and Science: Shared Histories .......................................................18 Internalism vs. Externalism ...........................................................................................................23 Foundationalism vs. Coherentism ..................................................................................................35 Quine's Naturalized Epistemology .................................................................................................41 Chapter Two: Feminist Epistemologies .........................................................................................54 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................54 The Emancipatory Promise ............................................................................................................60 Critical Feminist Responses to Quine ............................................................................................68 Chapter Three: Standpoint Epistemologies ...................................................................................88 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................88 Standpoint Theories .......................................................................................................................93 Feminist Standpoint Epistemologies..............................................................................................97 Ideologies and Critical Theory.....................................................................................................103 Strong Objectivity ............................................................................................................116 FSE's Controversy and Productivity ................................................................................124 FSE's Naturalistic Epistemology .....................................................................................129 Chapter Four: Naturalisms ...........................................................................................................134 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................134 Naturalism in a Broad Context ........................................................................................138 Harding's Critical View of Naturalism ............................................................................146 Standpoint as a Resource for Epistemology ....................................................................151 References ....................................................................................................................................156 i ABSTRACT This dissertation considers the “strategic naturalism” of Sandra Harding’s standpoint theory in the philosophy of science, and its application to epistemology. Strategic naturalism stipulates that all elements of inquiry are historically and culturally situated, and thereby subject to critical reflection, analysis, and revision. Allegiance to naturalism is de rigueur, yet there is no clear agreement on the term’s meaning. Harding’s standpoint theory reads the lack of definition as indicative of its generative possibilities for epistemic progress. The driving question is why Harding’s approach has not been considered a viable candidate for determining progress in epistemology. Beyond the fact that epistemic labor, in its scientific and non-scientific forms, is a social activity, Harding’s approach recognizes that it is situated in and reinforced by a broader network of social institutions, beliefs, and practices. Harding’s strategic naturalism would invigorate epistemology by increasing the awareness, acceptance, and respect for epistemic difference and drive epistemic progress that not only acknowledges pluralistic ways of knowing but also gives a more accurate account of the knowing subject. Chapter one is a discussion of non-naturalized epistemology and Quinean Naturalized Epistemology (QNE), framed by Harding’s historical account of the related projects of modern epistemology and science. This chapter highlights two important issues. The first issue is that epistemology is more complex than the story Quine offers. The second, and decisive issue is that the shared history of modern epistemology and science demonstrates the influence of social and ii cultural values on that history, and the long shadows they cast on naturalism debates in epistemology, science, and philosophy of science. Chapter two is an exegetical account of the origins of and motivations for critical feminist responses to both the received epistemological theory and QNE discussed in chapter one. The justifications for the feminist critiques and the problematic issues that motivate these critiques provide the backdrop for the initial, positive response to QNE, as well as their disenchantment with Quine’s influential proposal. Ultimately, feminist epistemologists and philosophers of science assess QNE as not naturalized enough to address their concerns. Chapter three considers several feminist standpoint theories to show that they are more naturalistic and better at providing a multi-faceted theory that is based on actual scientific practice, and re-introduces social values and interests as having a positive influence on epistemology and philosophies of science. This chapter shows that given the closely shared histories and assumptions of modern epistemology and science, FSE would be a viable resource for a more naturalistic epistemology. The final chapter argues that the project of naturalizing epistemology could incorporate FSE insights and make use of FSE’s controversiality in continued efforts to naturalize epistemology and philosophies of science. If we are to take seriously the concept of situatedness and what that entails, then naturalism must also be situated, and revisited with a critical and reflective eye. The implications on both our epistemic theories and our accounts of what kinds of knowing subjects we are would foster epistemic progress. iii INTRODUCTION Epistemology’s search for a definitive set of principles by which to justify knowledge claims is a search for an “unmovable” Archimedean point. As a normative discipline, epistemology, understood more broadly, is charged with a variety of issues that include the creation, the evaluation and dissemination of knowledge; ascertaining the necessary and sufficient conditions of knowledge, its sources, and its limits; defining concepts
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