Overcoming Barriers to Educated Discourse: <i>A Discovery of New Worlds</i> (1688), Translation, and Aphra Behn’s “Passionate Thirst of Knowledge of the Mind”

This paper highlights Aphra Behn's views, articulated through her translation practice and her theory of translation, that women ought to be able to enter more freely into educated discourse, and in this particular case, astronomical discussion.A Discovery of New Worlds (1688) is a translation of Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle's Entretiens sur la Pluralit des Mondes (1686).Both works present a conversation where a philosopher explains his views on the heliocentric model of the Universe to a marquise.In his preface, Fontenelle claims to have made science more accessible to women, particularly through his choosing to write in French, a less exclusive language than Latin.Because of this Fontenelle is regarded by some as groundbreaking in opening scientific thought up to women.However, while Behn recognised Fontenelle's intentions and applauded his aims, this essay explores the adjustments she made to avoid what she saw as Fontenelle's inability to recognise women's equal capacity for scientific learning reflected in his oversimplification of ideas.Through examination of adjustments Behn makes to the marquise's reactions and thought processes, I will show that Behn did not only translate Fontenelle's words but also engaged in debates about women's access to scientific discourse.