This is Philosophy Bites with me, David Edmonds, and me, Nigel Robertson.

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Just before the Second World War, for women, all of whom had become philosophers, went to

study at Oxford University. They became friends and discussed ethics in particular. They

each developed a distinctive approach to what was then and almost entirely male-dominated

subject. Benjamin Lipscomb has written about them, their lives, their ideas, and their

legacy. Benjamin Lipscomb, welcome to Philosophy Bites.

Oh, it's such a privilege to be here. The topic we're talking about today is four Oxford

female philosophers. These four women come to prominence in the second half of the

20th century. Very briefly, tell me something about them. Let's do it alphabetically, so

we don't get ourselves into trouble, rather than by philosophical significance. I might

ask you about that later. So let's start with Elizabeth Anscombe, who is a brilliant

philosopher and a devout Catholic.

Yes, and a mother of seven, and holding all of that together with being Vicentein's literary

executor and principal translator. People quote the philosophical investigations in her

translation as if they're getting Vicentein's words direct. She's also a reviver of just

war thinking in the second half of the 20th century and had a revolutionary significance

at a certain moment we might talk about in the history of 20th century ethics.

That's Anscombe, Philip of Foot, an upper-crusty English woman. I think it's fair to say quite

posh English on one side of the family, and she's the granddaughter of President Grover

Cleveland on the other side of the family.

...