Prompt 2

Jordan Greenwell

Mrs. Wilhelmus/ Mrs. Wagener

AP Language

5 August 2013

Aristotle’s Views on Women

                During Aristotle’s life women were not given the opportunities that men were.  Most women were uneducated and their role in life was to marry and raise a family while the husband was working.  It was very rare for women to get an education.  Aristotle thought that women were “unfinished”.  His opinion of women in today’s society would not be accepted like they were at his time.  Women’s rights have changed greatly in the past 100 years!

                Aristotle’s views on the women’s role in reproduction were very incorrect.  Aristotle thought, “The women were the soil, receiving and bringing forth the seed, whilst the man was the ‘sower’.”  As we know today, women contribute more to the reproduction process that what Aristotle thought at his time.  When I read this I couldn't help but think about how wrong he was.  Women are a very important part of society today, from running businesses and serving in the government.

                Aristotle also caused the church to change its own opinion of women.  The church took Aristotle’s ideas instead of focusing on what the bible says.  The book even states, “Jesus was no woman hater!”  This surprised me because I wouldn't think that the church would disregard the bible and just pay attention to Aristotle’s opinions.

                I thought that Plato had a more accurate understanding of women.  He thought that they were equal to man and that they could achieve the same things.  Plato’s thoughts would have been more accepted in today’s society.

                Like Plato and Aristotle, most philosophers at this time were men.  Women had it hard because they were not supposed to become educated, only few became educated during that time.  In this book most of the philosophers are men, and it doesn’t surprise me one bit.