. . .
"THE IMPACT OF HER ARGUMENT IS TO CALL US ALL TO THE ADVENTURE AS PERSONS WITHIN AND BETWEEN OUR DISCIPLINES, TO DISCOVER THE INSIGHTS THAT COME FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF ALL GROUPS, TO APPRECIATE THE PARTICULAR AND VARIOUS CULTURAL CONTEXTS WITHIN WHICH DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS DISCOVER AND CONVEY WISDOM AND TRUTH ABOUT THE HUMAN CONDITION. FAR FROM BEING A SIMPLE CALL FOR WOMEN'S STUDIES, ALTHOUGH TRANSFORMING KNOWLEDGE PROVIDES IMPRESSIVE INTELLECTUAL BUTTRESSING FOR SUCH STUDIES, DR. MlNNICH'S INVITATION IS TO UNDERSTAND HUMAN KNOWLEDGE IN A TRANSFORMED, INCLUSIVE WAY. MORE THAN A SIMPLE EXERCISE IN ERUDITION OR SPECIAL PLEADING, HER BOOK RAISES FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT KNOWLEDGE AND KNOWING IN A CULTURE AND POLITY THAT ARE AVOWEDLY PLURALIST AND DEMOCRATIC IN THEIR CHARACTER AND ASPIRATION. THE TRANSFORMATION SHE CALLS FOR IS CRUCIAL IF WE ARE TO FULFILL OUR HUMAN POTENTIAL AND ACHIEVE HUMAN FREEDOM. TO CONCLUDE, IN HER OWN WORDS, "WE ARE FREE SUBJECTS WHOSE FREEDOM IS CONDITIONED — NOT DETERMINED — BY A WORLD NOT OF OUR MAKING BUT IN MANY WAYS OPEN TO THE EFFECTS OF OUR ACTIONS. IF NOTHING ELSE, THEN, I BELIEVE IN THE EDUCATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF THINKING AND OF CRITIQUE AS PREPARATIONS FOR A KIND OF ACTION THAT ENGAGES WITH OTHERS, AND WITH THE WORLD, RATHER THAN SUBMITTING TO IT OR TRYING TO 'MASTER' IT." [p, 189]"

--Christopher N. Breiseth, chair, Frederic W. Ness Book Award Selection Committee for 1990, Association of American Colleges, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 1991

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