Damaris Cudworth Masham (1658-1708) was one of the very first English women to publish philosophical writings. Like all women of her period she was denied access to higher education, but she grew up accustomed to philosophical discourse as the daughter of Ralph Cudworth, the leading Cambridge Platonist. In 1685 she married Sir Francis Masham and went to live with him at Oates, Essex. For many years she was an intimate friend of John Locke; she also corresponded on philosophical topics with Leibniz. Lady Masham's two main philosophical works, "A Discourse Concerning the Love of God" (1696) and "Occasional Thoughts in Reference to a Vertuous or Christian Life" (1705) were published anonymously and caused a considerable stir. Both books have now become extremely rare, and Thoemmes Press here presents them in a single volume, prefixed by James G. Buickerood's new introduction. Masham's "Discourse" was written partly in response to John Norris's "Practical Discourses upon several Divine Subjects" (1693), and to Norris's correspondence with Mary Astell published in "Letters concerning the Love of God" (1695).
Norris and Astell held that God is the efficient (true) cause of all human feelings, and thus must be the sole object of human love. Masham takes issue with this, attacking its implication that God's creatures are unsuitable objects of human love. "Occasional Thoughts" is more practical, focusing on the nature of education to virtue. Its thesis is that the pursuit of virtue should be grounded on a rational commitment to sound religious principles, derived from a critical education. Masham argues vigorously for the education of both women and men on religious, social and moral grounds. James G. Buickerood's introduction argues that Lady Masham should be seen as an independent thinker of stature, not (as she sometimes is) as a mere mouthpiece for Cudworth and Locke.
- ISBN10 1843710242
- ISBN13 9781843710240
- Publish Date 15 July 2004
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 6 January 2006
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Thoemmes Continuum
- Edition New edition
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 400
- Language English