Epistemic Injustice in Propertius 1.3

Abstract

Abstract:In Propertius 1.3 we hear Cynthia speak for the first time, in direct speech, accusing Propertius of infidelity. It is a striking moment in elegy, barely to be repeated. In this paper I want to explore what the framework of epistemic injustice, part of the field of epistemology, could mean for a reading of this dramatic encounter. As elaborated by the philosopher Miranda Fricker, the theory provides radical new insights into how we conceive of the relationship between knowers, how we acquire and share our knowledge, and the prejudices and assumptions behind these interactions.