There are no statues in honour of women philosophers in Edinburgh. There are statues honouring Scottish male philosophers such as Hume, whom Shepherd analyses in her treaties, but none of her. Despite being well-known and influential in her day, the male philosophers of her era, including those not highly regarded during their lifetime, have since become canonical in philosophy, but not her. Yet Shepherd (1777-1847) was a key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. 

Shepherd is considered the first Scottish female philosopher and hosted salons attended by a diverse group of great thinkers. She wrote two long treatises and was a major influence on the Edinburgh School so shaping the future of philosophy. William Whewell (1794-1866) used a Treatise she wrote as a textbook at Cambridge University. Yet in 2018, she is still not part of the philosophical canon. 

It’s 240 years since her birth so it is an apt time to begin petitioning for a statue of her in Edinburgh. The statue will serve to inspire girls to pursue philosophy, a discipline in which women are still woefully underrepresented. Shepherd shows that philosophy is for girls and that women philosophers have written major philosophical works for centuries. More locally, the statue will hopefully inspire Scottish women to engage in philosophy and not see philosophy as being predominantly a male pursuit through a lack of visibility of Scottish women philosophers in history. 

Please sign this petition to remember and celebrate Lady Mary Shepherd.

For more information about her and updates on how the petition is progressing visit:
https://theladymaryshepherdphilosophysalon.blogspot.co.uk/