But I still
insist, that not only the virtue, but the knowledge of the two sexes
should be the same in nature, if not in degree, and that women,
considered not only as moral, but rational creatures, ought to
endeavour to acquire human virtues (or perfections) by the same
means as men, instead of being educated like a fanciful kind of half
being- one of Rousseau's wild chimeras.*
* 'Researches into abstract and speculative truths, the principles
and axioms of sciences, in short, every thing which tends to
generalize our ideas, is not the proper province of women; their
studies should be relative to points of practice; it belongs to them
to apply those principles which men have discovered; and it is their
part to make observations, which direct men to the establishment of
general principles. All the ideas of women, which have not the
immediate tendency to points of duty, should be directed to the
study of men, and to the attainment of those agreeable accomplishments
which have taste for their object; for as to works of genius, they are
beyond their capacity; neither have they sufficient precision or power
of attention to succeed in sciences which require accuracy: and as
to physical knowledge, it belongs to those only who are most active,
most inquisitive; who comprehend the greatest variety of objects: in
short, it belongs to those who have the strongest powers, and who
exercise them most, to judge of the relations between sensible
beings and the laws of nature.
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