Clarisse Coignet

Background Coignet was born in Montagney, a commune of Rougemont. Her father Joseph Gauthier, was a master blacksmith while her mother Virginie Génisset was a professor of Latin literature at a university in Besançon. She was also the niece of the writer Clarisse Vigoureux and a cousin of Victor Considerant. a noted French civil engineer and industrialist. The couple had three children, including Lucy Coignet, the wife of Count Gérando-Teleki.

Coignet's early works had been influenced by the reform of the French educational system after the proclamation of the French Third Republic.

Coignet is also known for her biographical account of her relatives, such as Clarisse Vigoureux and her cousin Victor and his socialist politics.

Independent Morality Coignet proposed her idea of evolving independent morality, which reflected the issues addressed in the philosophical discussions of her time. Her main argument was that morality should not be grounded in science or religion since it is produced by humans. She primarily explored this theory in the published work called (1869), which was also partly influenced by Immanuel Kant. This work emerged from her writings for the newspaper. This was explained in the case of a tribal chief who constantly beats his wife. The woman puts a stop to it when she realized her worth and her freedom, allowing her to regard her husband with reproach, awakening his conscience as a result.

Coignet further clarified her arguments on morality and religion in the book (1911).