Women and Evil

Library Journal

Noddings (education, Stanford Univ.) presents innovative and insightful criticism of traditional understandings of the concept of evil; she then goes on to construct a humanitarian (rather than polemically feminist) alternative to both the concept as tradition has given us to understand it--effeminate, materialist, responsive to violence--and strategies for re-educating our culture morally--to mediate, to practice moderation, to share with rather than oppose the Other. Her grasp of theological and philosopical history is sound, her writing concise and cogent, and her topic always timely. Her book is not perfect; scholars will feel invited to respond to it. Yet most libraries will need and want it, as it addresses readers interested in women's studies, cultural anthropology, religion, and philosophy. Accessible to general readers as well. --Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley P.L., Cal.