The Practical Reality of Sexual Difference: An Atopic Encounter Between Cavarero and Sini

Applying Sini’s framework of the “thought of practices” and considering Cavarero’s acknowledgment that the feminism of “sexual difference” can be pragmatically interpreted, this paper elaborates a pragmatic understanding of gendered practices of life and knowledge. Firstly, Sini’s description of the world of practices is critiqued, emphasizing the gender characterization it lacks, and building on Cavarero’s critical perspective on philosophical neutrality and its consequences. It is outlined that overlooking the influence of sexual difference on life practices entails making women’s experiences untranslatable in the world of knowledge, thereby losing the pragmatic understanding that Sini seeks. Secondly, the paper focuses on Cavarero’s conceptualization of maternity and the latent biological certainties it upholds. Sini’s argument against scientific naturalism is used to criticize Cavarero’s conceptualization, demonstrating how the perception of nature is conditioned by the researchers’ worldview embedded in practices. Therefore, the paper advocates for a renewed perspective on the intellectual legacy of Cavarero and Sini through their mutual assessment.