معرفی
Sylvana Tomaselli is a historian of political thought at the University of Cambridge, where she serves as a Fellow of St John's College and an Affiliated Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) within the Faculty of Human, Social and Political Sciences. She also holds appointments in the Faculty of History and serves as Director for Postgraduates at St John's College. Her academic roles include Director of Studies for History, History & Politics, History & Modern Languages, and Human, Social and Political Sciences.
Dr. Tomaselli's educational background reflects the interdisciplinary nature of her work: she earned her undergraduate degree in Philosophy, a master's in Social and Political Sciences, and a PhD in History of Political Thought. This diverse academic foundation has enabled her to bridge philosophical inquiry with historical analysis throughout her career.
Her research focuses primarily on the political philosophy of the long eighteenth century (c. 1688-1815), with special expertise in Enlightenment thinkers and their legacies. Tomaselli has established herself as a leading authority on Mary Wollstonecraft, having edited Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Men and Vindication of the Rights of Woman and published the acclaimed intellectual biography Wollstonecraft: Philosophy, Passion, and Politics (2021). Her scholarship also encompasses Montesquieu, Rousseau, Adam Smith, and broader themes including punishment and pardon, friendship, political economy, conjectural histories, and the history of women's thought. Her recent work demonstrates a distinctive approach that combines rigorous historical contextualization with philosophical analysis, often challenging conventional interpretations of canonical texts and thinkers.
Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent focus on Enlightenment political thought with particular attention to gender dynamics, the evolution of political concepts, and the intersection of moral philosophy with practical politics. Tomaselli's research frequently explores how historical narratives shape contemporary political understanding, particularly regarding questions of equality, rights, and social organization. Her work on Wollstonecraft has been particularly influential in reshaping scholarly understanding of this foundational feminist thinker beyond simplistic categorizations.
- Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHS)
- Editor of Cambridge University Press edition of Wollstonecraft's works
- Contributor to major reference works including Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
As an educator, Tomaselli teaches the History of Political Thought papers jointly coordinated by the History Faculty and POLIS. She supervises MPhil students in History of Political Thought, Early Modern History and Economic History, and has guided PhD research on citizenship, constitutional history, political moderation, and the works of major Enlightenment figures. Her leadership as Director for Postgraduates at St John's College involves overseeing the academic and professional development of graduate students across disciplines. Tomaselli's scholarly network extends internationally through collaborations with researchers working on Enlightenment thought, political theory, and gender studies, contributing to various seminar series and intellectual communities at Cambridge including the Institute of Intellectual History.
