Kristy's response to Schiebinger
I believe that Schiebinger’s book offers us an understanding of the history of the development of science. Although some of the topics in her book refer to some absurd theories of gender and race, she tries to help the reader comprehend how science came about and how the philosophers of the eighteenth century thought. She offers us an insight to the minds of Linneaus and other philosophers famous for their findings in science. Throughout her book, Schiebinger gives background information for how these “fathers� of science came up with their ideas, and in many cases, offers counter arguments to explain science in an alternate way. After reading her book, a new understanding of the complexity of science and how difficult it is for many intelligent men to agree upon how to classify race and gender in an appropriate manner. This book leaves the reader with many questions as to finding an acceptable way to classify gender and race. Is there a real way to classify such complex and controversial subjects? Learning how these philosophers had such different perspectives on science really makes one try to come up with a way to figure out whose theory to adopt and whose theory to reject. Are females and African Americans still inferior to the white male? Although it is in our constitution that all men are created equal…is that how our society really is? After reading this book I have come to question if things have really changed, and if they have, how much? In the eighteenth century, women did not have a voice in science; now they do. If women were able to voice an opinion in the eighteenth century, would the theories of the philosophers be any different? Schiebinger’s book has raised a lot of questions that will probably go unanswered. After reading her book, my appreciation of science has increased. I had no idea there were so many different ideas on gender and race. Her book gives good insight into the lives of the eighteenth century philosophers and how the evolution of science began.