Freethought Nowwritten by Kat Grant: 4-November-2024.

One of my favorite stories from my classical philosophy college courses is a particular episode between Plato and Diogenes the Cynic, who were both attempting to define a man.

According to the tale, Plato had proffered the definition of “a featherless biped.” Upon hearing this, Diogenes, absolute chaos gremlin that he was, plucked a chicken, and took it to one of Plato’s lectures on the topic. When Plato gave his definition to the audience, Diogenes stood up, lifted the featherless chicken for the crowd to see, and shouted “Behold! A man!” Plato then amended his definition to “a featherless biped with broad, flat nails.”

This is one of my favorites for a lot of reasons. First off, it’s objectively hilarious. I can think of more than one person in my life who would attempt to pull off that type of stunt just to annoy an academic who has defined something in a way they dislike (minus the animal cruelty, of course). Second, it continues to resonate millennia later, but now instead of asking “What is a man” people are asking “What is a woman?”

Continue reading @ Freethought Now.

What Is A Woman?

Freethought Nowwritten by Kat Grant: 4-November-2024.

One of my favorite stories from my classical philosophy college courses is a particular episode between Plato and Diogenes the Cynic, who were both attempting to define a man.

According to the tale, Plato had proffered the definition of “a featherless biped.” Upon hearing this, Diogenes, absolute chaos gremlin that he was, plucked a chicken, and took it to one of Plato’s lectures on the topic. When Plato gave his definition to the audience, Diogenes stood up, lifted the featherless chicken for the crowd to see, and shouted “Behold! A man!” Plato then amended his definition to “a featherless biped with broad, flat nails.”

This is one of my favorites for a lot of reasons. First off, it’s objectively hilarious. I can think of more than one person in my life who would attempt to pull off that type of stunt just to annoy an academic who has defined something in a way they dislike (minus the animal cruelty, of course). Second, it continues to resonate millennia later, but now instead of asking “What is a man” people are asking “What is a woman?”

Continue reading @ Freethought Now.

1 comment:

  1. "Some people define a “woman” as someone with a vagina. This presents problems, as transgender women who receive bottom surgery have vaginas."

    If sex and gender are two completely different things according to their playbook then why are they trying to change one by having surgery?

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