Queering Philosophy

Queering Philosophy provides a critical introduction to and engagement with current conversations and emerging themes at the nexus of queer theory and philosophy. Much more than a summary of recent work, this book presents an intersectional, thematic approach that highlights scholarship at the cutting edge of queer, feminist, disability, and critical race theories; defines the parameters of contemporary queer philosophy; and argues that a queer philosophy must aim to queer philosophy. Queering Philosophy explores the possibility of doing philosophy otherwise. In doing so, the book explores feminist, critical race, and critical disability theories to advance a queer feminist critique, and challenges the unacknowledged whiteness and other forms of marginalization that have characterized the mainstream of philosophy and queer theory’s archive. This accessible and important book is ideal for courses in philosophy and gender, sexuality, race and disability studies.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction / 2. Power, Life, Death / 3. Queer Matters / 4. Queer Knowing / 5. Queer Ecologies / 6. Queer Ethics / Bibliography / Index

About the Author :
Kim Q. Hall is professor of philosophy at Appalachian State University. She is the editor of Feminist Disability Studies and coeditor of Whiteness: Feminist Philosophical Reflections and The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Philosophy.

Review :
Queer theory is not new, but because the academic discipline of philosophy has not fully embraced this project, Queering Philosophy is an important book. It confronts "straight habits" within philosophy while simultaneously exploring ways of doing philosophy differently, particularly through a three-faceted methodology of counter-memory, smuggling, and recruitment. Counter-memory means collaborating with texts outside the canon, "philosophy alongside queer studies, queer alongside disability, race, gender, class, nation, and age" (p. 15). Smuggling means employing texts customarily excluded from the discipline to "call attention to and resist queer-eradicating practices in the field" (p. 15). Recruitment means enlisting theories and theorists "beyond individual self-identification as queer, a philosopher, or a queer philosopher" (p. 16). The result is promiscuous, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intersectional; it is also an urgent and welcome addition to the literature on philosophy in general and to queer philosophy in particular. The book is well written and well researched and will likely be useful reading, especially for those grappling with related subject matter. It is short enough to be squeezed into an existing reading list. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.