Elisabeth of the Palatinate (26 December 1618 鈥� 11 February 1680), also known as Elisabeth of Bohemia, Princess Elisabeth of the Palatinate, or Princess-Abbess of Herford Abbey, was the eldest daughter of Frederick V, Elector Palatine (who was briefly King of Bohemia), and Elizabeth Stuart. Elisabeth of the Palatinate is a philosopher best known for her correspondence with Ren茅 Descartes. She was critical of Descartes' dualistic metaphysics and her work anticipated the metaphysical concerns of later philosophers.
Elisabeth Simmern van Pallandt was born on December 26, 1618 in Heidelberg. She was the third of thirteen children and eldest daughter of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, and Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James I of England and sister of Charles I.
This is actually really interesting, though more because of Princess Elisabeth (one of the only women in history to have a full education in philosophy) than Descartes.
It is seldom that one gets to read an important philosopher questioned sharply by a sympathetic insightful reader. In this book Elisabeth questions Descartes about some of the most problematic aspects of his philosophy. For example: how do mind and body communicate? Shapiro's introduction is worth the price of the book. She teases out of Elisabeth's questions Elisabeth's own philosophic position.
Worth a read after Descartes before Cavendish if you're interested in a very early feminist critique of his work. Elisabeth is very funny and very smart with how she addresses him and presents her objections
This book was painful to read, but alas, it had to be read. Fuck you Descartes, I'm glad to leave your theories behind! I have to admit that I disagree with you, monsieur, when you said that:
'what [you] have written is so true and so clear that [you are] sure that there is no reasonable man who does not subscribe to it.'
I am not a man, and so do not subscribe, thanks xx
Cet 茅change de lettres est 茅trangement absent des annales de l'histoire de la philosophie. Dommage, car nous ne pouvons pas dire que celle-ci regorge de femmes philosophes qui en plus pouvaient tenir t锚te 脿 Descartes sur des sujets tr猫s pr茅cis comme le dualisme corps-芒me, la b茅atitude etc.
The only collected writings of Elisabeth out there -- a philosopher who did not write a magnum opus, but letters, and her letters are brilliant and inspiring... (also for a class)