Il Cartesianesimo e l’istruzione delle donne tra Seicento e Settecento

The paper focuses in particular on Eleonora Barbapiccola’s important Preface to the first Italian translation of Descartes’ Principles of Philosophy, Descartes’ most “philosophical” work. In her Preface, Barbapiccola affirms the need for women to appropriate a knowledge that is the common heritage of all those who will study the Principles with great attention so to receive what the strength and evidence of reason can force to believe. This is the goal that Barbapiccola recommends to women and, together, the radical philosophical program that she proposes to them and which reflects the cultural vitality of an entire era. The paper shows that Barbapiccola’s translation is not only a ‘moment’ in the history of Descartes’ fortune in Italy, as has been considered, but she contributes to that fortune with her radical thought and research autonomy. In this sense, she must also be considered among the representative figures in the scientific culture of the early modern age.