Oltre Diotima : a partire da un'archeologia della differenza femminile

This essay situates the interest in the figure of Diotima, the wise woman from Plato' s Symposium, within the context of studies on female difference in the 1980s and 1990s. There, while the absence of women from history was being denounced, an 'archaeological'method was being used to uncover traces of the feminine in literary and philosophical contexts constructed by male minds. The author discusses in particular the innovations brought to the understanding of Plato' s dialogue by adopting a gender criterion in textual analysis and the current relevance of certain questions raised by the thought of difference, yet to be explored today. [Publisher's text]