Fiktionalitet i F.C. Eilschovs Forsøg til en Fruentimmer-Philosophie

Abstract

This article investigates how and why the Danish philosopher Frederik Christian Eilschov in Forsøg til en Fruentimmer-Philosophie as one of the first scientists in Denmark uses fictionality as a rhetorical strategy to communicate science. I argue that Eilschov uses both global and local fictionality to transfer scientific content from a male, Latin and scientific public to a female, Danish and literary public by mimicking rhetorical strategies prevalent in the female public. The reason for his changing rhetoric is that it among other things allows the readers to identify with a woman philosopher and presents a certain knowledge praxis and culture. In addition, Eilschov also thinks women have greater imagination and therefore are conditioned to other rhetorical strategies than men. Though Eilschov has been acknowledged as one of the more influential rationalists in Denmark during the 18thcentury as well as an important language puritan his role as one of the first scientists in Denmark that introduces fictionality as a rhetorical strategy to communicate science has been underemphasized. This article aims to change that.