Professor Cinzia Arruzza will have an article published in May
Professor Cinzia Arruzza will have her article, “The Justice of the First Wave,” published in the Summer 2026 volume of Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy. More information can be found here.
“The Justice of the First Wave”
Abstract:
This article examines the argumentative coherence of the “first wave” in Plato’s Republic V, where Socrates advocates for the full inclusion of women in the guardian class. Contrary to interpretations that see this argument as dependent on the abolition of the private family (the “second wave”), I argue that Socrates presents a self-contained and logically consistent defense of women’s participation based on the principle of specialization. By distinguishing—with the help of Glaucon—between genos (kind) and individual, Socrates refutes the claim that sexual difference justifies exclusion from guardian roles. Additionally, I analyze the implications of Socrates’ remarks on women’s “weakness” in light of Hippocratic medical theories, arguing that female embodiment presents a comparative, but not categorical, disadvantage. Ultimately, Plato’s argument, while not feminist in a modern sense, is internally consistent and aligns with the Republic’s broader commitments to justice and the proper division of labor in Kallipolis.