Canon Fodder

Canon Fodder, Volume 1, by Penny A Weiss, serves as a profound exercise in the recovery of historical memory. This work of political philosophy addresses a group of thinkers who have been ignored or excluded from the traditional canon of Western thought. Weiss uses the term canon fodder to describe these thinkers, drawing a parallel to soldiers treated as expendable. While some progress has been made in recognizing figures like Mary Wollstonecraft, the rich resources of women's political writings remain largely untapped. This book seeks to restore these essential voices to the global conversation.

The text explores diverse figures ranging from Sei Shonagon and Christine de Pizan to Anna Julia Cooper and Emma Goldman. Within this social science and women's studies volume, the author examines the nature of political inquiry and offers alternative visions of equality, power, and community. By analyzing these historical and theoretical perspectives, Canon Fodder, Volume 1, challenges the classic lists that shape modern political science and academic study.