Prying Open the Canon: Tradition Meets Diversity

• In Event: Political Theory, Discipline, and Method

Abstract

The conference theme urges us to appreciate how “the diversity of our scholars . . . contributes to knowledge and ways of understanding the world.” I bring this encouragement into conversation with the canon of political theory: how does incorporating a much broader diversity of our foremothers and forefathers contribute to political knowledge, especially the tradition we hand down to our students?

As I am in the process of constructing a reader that extends far beyond the traditional canon, I raise questions about what the door-keepers of the canon are protecting, and what has been lost, at what cost to whom. I ask whether, as we pry open the gate, every entrant must still show appropriate credentials in order to gain admission, or whether there are other, more inclusive credentials that are more appropriate. I also consider how we work with the fact that not every new entry has what we might call “progressive politics”; do we emphasize, simply show, or downplay their more problematic aspects? Overall, I discuss the benefits to our students and our discipline of having a whole host of political thinkers breaching the borders of the canon.

Author

• Penny A. Weiss, Saint Louis University