From Canon Fodder to Canon-Formation: How Do We Get There from Here?

The phenomenon of recently rediscovered philosophical works by women who wrote from antiquity until the late 20th century is outlined in this paper. It questions what the English-language canon of philosophy is, what it ought to be, and what criteria ought to be employed or avoided in determining which authors and works merit inclusion in that canon. It examines biases to avoid when attempting to construct the canon of philosophy and to right the wrongful omission of women. Further, it suggests that employing particular criteria and avoiding particular biases will result in the expansion of the present canon to include the philosophical perspectives of minority and indigenous peoples.