Introduced by Christia Mercer, Eileen O'Neill presented closing remarks,

entitled "The History of Women," at "Women, Philosophy and History: A Conference in Celebration of Eileen O'Neill '75."

This two-day conference continued the groundbreaking work of Eileen O'Neill

by examining the standard narrative of the history of philosophy from a feminist

perspective. O'Neill's pioneering scholarship has brought to light the texts and ideas

of women in the early modern period, and demonstrated the substantial contributions

they made to philosophy. Her work has encouraged the analysis of thinkers as diverse

as Marie de Gournay, Margaret Cavendish, Anne Conway, Elisabeth of Bohemia, Anna

Maria van Schurman, Mary Astell, Emilie du Chatelet, and Damaris Masham. It has also

challenged philosophers to reconsider methodological assumptions that have hidden

these women and their works from view. The eminent international scholars gathered

for this conference will continue this exploration and discuss the methodological,

pedagogical, and philosophical implications of O'Neill's work. The conference also

celebrates the impact of O'Neill's commitment to women in philosophy more generally.