9/27 Sandra Harding, “Rethinking Standpoint Epistemology: ‘What is Strong Objectivity?’”

Theme: Rethinking objectivity through the notion that knowledge is acquired through a particular perspective or standpoint

1. According to Harding, what is the difference between standpoint epistemology and spontaneous feminist empiricism on how to address sexism in science?

2. According to Harding, standpoint epistemology starts from the position of marginalized people, but doesn’t restrict itself to this perspective. She argues that the lives of marginalized people lead to critical questions about the practices and results of science, but not necessarily to the answers to these questions. What does she mean by this, and what does it suggest about the possibility of men being feminists?

3. Is Harding’s notion of ‘strong objectivity’ consistent with Rescher’s views of objectivity? If not, what are their differences?