Stoic-influenced epistemology in Margaret Cavendish’s theory of perception

Abstract

Recent scholarship has explored various aspects of Cavendish’s epistemology and some concepts of her philosophy of nature have been shown to trace back to Stoic mechanics and aetiology. This paper argues that there was also a significant influence of the first Stoa’s epistemology on the duchess’ theory of perception, made possible by her readings of Thomas Stanley. By comparing key features of Stoic (kataleptic) sense-impression to Cavendishian double (regular) perception, I show that uncovering this influence helps us understand her late philosophical works.