Les Cahiers du GRIF - Année 1992 - Volume 46 - Numéro 1 - Pages 75-88This article is a chapter of a book which deals with the epistemology of the difference between sexes as developed in philosophy. The hypothesis has two parts : the first one is based on the premise that it is necessary to produce categories with which to read philosophical texts on women and on the difference between the sexes ; the second part argues that in the course of the nineteenth century the discussion of this question changed. The « lucidity » of the philosophers is seen in their concern to « finally » deal with this issue in philosophy, in their ironic awareness to tell everything that they know, and in their consciousness to employ a polemic about the true stakes at issue. 14 pages Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.