Masculinity As An Ontological Problem: The Masculine Character of Reason From Antiquity to Modernity

Abstract

My aim in this paper is to analyze the masculine character of reason from antiquity to modernity, by mentioning Plato, Aristotle and Francis Bacon. The major force that brought this study into being is my experience of comparing Antique and modern philosopher’s conception of reason. Reason has masculine character in Western metaphysical tradition owing to reason/passion dichotomy. Accordingly, I refer to masculinity as an ontological subject. Also, my intention in this paper is to show that how the dichotomies generate masculinity from Antiquity to modern age. Within this context, I will try to demonstrate the relevance between masculine character of logos in Antiquity and the concept of reason in Modernity by mentioning the construction of masculinity in Plato, Cartesian paradigm and Bacon.