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Why was Condorcet’s thinking so advanced on gender equality?
Among the many Enlightenment thinkers who won the Nobel Prize in France at the end of the 18th century, Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicolas-de-Carita (Condorcet) was undoubtedly one of the most forward-looking thinkers. one. His views on gender equality made him appear unusually advanced in the society of his time. Condorcet strongly supported women's equal civil rights and the right to education, a stance that was almost subversive in the conservative society of the time.
Condorcet put it clearly in his 1790 writings: "The rights of men derive entirely from the fact that they are sentient beings, capable of acquiring moral thoughts and reasoning about them. Since women possess the same qualities, they must also Enjoy the same rights. ”
Condorcet's background made him a thinker and reformer. His academic career began in mathematics and then he devoted himself to political economics and social reform. Condorcet emphasized the key role of education in women's liberation. He advocated that women should be provided with the same education as men so that artificial differences between the sexes could be eliminated.
He pointed out: "I believe that other differences between men and women are purely the result of education." This view not only points to the social construction of gender roles, but also poses a powerful challenge to the mainstream ideas at the time.
Condorcet's advocacy extended not only to the right to education and citizenship, but also to broader social freedoms and protections. He advocates women's right to choose their own reproduction and calls on society to criminalize rape. He elaborated on women's "property rights" in their personal bodies, emphasizing that this is an important manifestation of respecting everyone's rights.
However, Condorcet's actions in the actual political environment have been criticized by many. Some scholars pointed out that although Condorcet actively advocated gender equality in theory, in reality his reform movement progressed slowly and was limited by the general environment of the times. But other scholars believe that Condorcet's contribution lies in inspiring the thinking of later feminists, and that he, together with Mary Wollstonecraft and others, promoted the rise of the early women's liberation movement.
In his History of the Progress of the Human Mind, Condorcet wrote: "The progress of mankind is necessarily accompanied by moral and political progress." This view became one of the important ideas of the Enlightenment and paved the way for future Social movements laid the foundation.
Coming from a diverse society, Condorcet not only demonstrated unprecedented foresight on gender equality, but also made a strong call for racial equality. As a member of the Society of Friends, he actively participated in anti-slavery discussions, emphasizing that the freedom of all human beings should be respected regardless of their gender, race or social status.
Condorcet's ideas are still profoundly inspiring today. As modern society pays more attention to gender equality, many of Condorcet's ideas have gradually been put into practice. For example, the advocacy of educational equality has now become an important part of educational policies in countries around the world.
He once asserted: "Unless it can be proved that women are naturally inferior to men, it would be an act of tyranny against the new France to deprive them of their fundamental civil rights." This strong statement made him an important prophet in the fight for women's rights .
Today, we can find relevant resonances in the reflections in Condorcet's texts, inspiring us in our pursuit of gender equality. His beliefs guide us to think deeply about how to implement the concept of gender equality in today's social and political structures, which still need work, so that everyone has equal rights and opportunities. Such thinking leaves us with a question: In today’s society, how can we truly achieve the gender equality advocated by Condorcet?
