The Feminist Theory Reading Group began in 2005 as a way for students to pursue literature outside of the classroom and enhance their knowledge of the subject as a whole. The group focuses on topics and concerns arising from contemporary feminist theory and queer thought. Each semester, a new subject or theme is investigated, and one or two people serve as group leaders, who research, gather, and distribute the literature. Themes in the past have included figures like Butler, Cixous, Irigaray, Kristeva, and LeDoeuf and such topics as masculinity and multicultural feminism. While many members of the group have been involved for multiple semesters, anyone is encouraged to join, regardless of one's level of experience with feminist theory.

This semester we will be reading Belgian philosopher, Isabelle Stengers's The Invention of Modern Science (2000), in order to delve into the intersection between feminist philosophy and science. Her work will offer us novel tools with which to re-think "truth" and "knowledge" within the exact sciences. Also, this text should further some of the discussion begun with this year's Spindel Conference on "The Sexes of Evolution: Continental Philosophy, Feminist Philosophy, and Evolutionary Theory."