Pragmatism and Embodiment as Resources for Feminist Interventions in Science

Feminist theorists have shown that knowledge is embodied in ways that make a difference in science. Intemann properly endorses feminist standpoint theory over Longino's empiricism, insofar as the former better addresses embodiment. I argue that a pragmatist analysis further improves standpoint theory. Pragmatism avoids the radical subjectivity that otherwise leaves us unable to account for our ability to share scientific knowledge across bodies of different kinds. It allows us to argue for the inclusion, not just of the knowledge produced from marginalized bodies, but of marginalized people themselves.