The masculine character of Francis Bacon's epistemology

This study focuses on Francis Bacon's epistemology in order to point out the connection between knowledge and masculinity inherent in philosophical thought and scientific activity. The connection between masculinity and the ideal of knowledge in Bacon's epistemology is revealed in the use of metaphors based on sexual difference in relation with to the comprehending of knowledge as a power. By turning to the origins of the metaphors, the thesis aims to reveal the historicity of sexual difference, which has been preserved and legitimized in the tradition of thought since the Greek epistemologies. With the masculine history of the reason, the thesis focuses on the distinction between subject and object, knower and known of Modern epistemology, which can be called a break in epistemic context. This is also a distinction in which the principles of modern epistemology such as objectivity, universality and neutrality are constructed. However, the distintion between subject and object does not work in establishing scientific principles, and it covers the Masculine form given to the subject. With this context the main theme of the thesis, which aims to criticize how and in what way the representations of masculinity, and femininity are conceptualized, uncovers that the knowledge ideals of Western metaphysics correspond to the ideal of masculinity, based on Bacon's epistemology. For this reason, this study examines the identification between masculinity and knowledge ideals by centered on the feminist standpoint theory. Drawing attention to the fact that scientific activity is built centered on the West, human and male, feminist standpoint theory questions the possibilities of doing science in different ways. Thus, feminist standpoint theory offers a very useful context and critical perspective in dealing with the masculine character of Bacon's epistemology.