Séverine Auffret turns to Melanippe the Philosopher, the title of a play by Euripides, which remains little known as it bears witness to a philosophical thought held by women in antiquity and has been suppressed by the history of philosophy.

This essay, originally published in 1988, not only rehabilitates a figure who has been rendered invisible, but also questions the relationship between philosophy and women. Linking ancient origins with our contemporary era, Séverine Auffret seeks to resurrect a lost voice, restore her way of thinking, and open up a space for reflection on femininity, myths, philosophical language, and the history of thought from yesterday to today. Mélanippe la philosophe was one of the Paris libraries' favorites for 2024.