Trans Philosophy

Happy Pride Month! This week’s review presents an intersectional analysis of the experiences of trans and gender non-conforming people, arguing for “the recognition of trans philosophy as a philosophical subfield.”

Posted on June 2, 2025 in Reviews of the Month

Trans Philosophy

ed. by Perry Zurn et al Minnesota, 2024
320p bibl index, 9781517917036 $120.00, 9781517917043 $29.95, 9781452972183

Trans Philosophy is a collection of essays examining lived experiences, histories, and discriminations involving trans and gender non-conforming people. The essays address sexuality, disability, race, and other intersectional identifiers as well as calling for the recognition of trans philosophy as a philosophical subfield. In order to advance trans and non-conformist phenomenological experiences, the collection provides both direct and indirect knowledge. The articles are separated into meta-philosophy and categories; embodiment and the phenomenology of flesh; temporality and the bioethics of becoming; and politics and world making. The articles in each section explore these philosophical concepts in light of Western cultural positioning along with cultures such as Indigenous in order to provide alternative trans and non-conforming people’s positioning in epistemologies/ontologies. This collection lives up to the introduction’s claim to open important dialogues and to address the limits of Western identifiers. Trans Philosophy challenges Western barriers as well as Western philosophical categories. The text requires the reader to reassess knowledge standards and base assumptions. The text also offers opportunities for challenging and enlightened conversations within the classroom. This is a must for libraries and an excellent work for philosophy and non-philosophy classes studying the experience and resistance of gender non-conforming and trans peoples.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals.
Reviewer: L. L. Lovern, Valdosta State University
Interdisciplinary Subjects: Native American Studies, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Studies
Subject: Humanities – Philosophy
Choice Issue: Mar 2025

Trans Philosophy

Happy Pride Month! This week’s review presents an intersectional analysis of the experiences of trans and gender non-conforming people, arguing for “the recognition of trans philosophy as a philosophical subfield.”