Victoria Welby

Thomas, Emily

Abstract

In 1880s Britain, Victoria Welby (1837–1912) began creating a rich, wide-ranging metaphysical system. At its heart lies Motion, 'the great fact, the supreme category'. Drawing extensively on archive materials, this Element offers the first study of Welby's metaphysics. It portrays her universe as a complex of motions: motions comprise material bodies, living beings, and conscious minds. This dynamic universe, 'Motion', underlies many other elements of her thought, including her views on idealism, panpsychism, change, space, and anti-realism about time. This study shows that Welby's metaphysics are deeply embedded in the scientific-philosophical debates of her period, and variously draw on vortex theories of matter in physics; Victorian panpsychisms, fuelled by debates over the continuity of mind in Darwinian evolution; and new conceptions of time as the 'fourth dimension' of space. Victoria Welby significantly advances our understanding of Welby's philosophy, opening paths for future scholarship.

Citation

Thomas, E. (2023). Victoria Welby. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009345897

• Book Type: Authored Book
• Online Publication Date: Feb 17, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Deposit Date: Nov 22, 2022
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Series Title: Elements on Women in the History of Philosophy
• Series ISSN: 2634-4637,2634-4645
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009345897
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1120410
• Contract Date: Nov 11, 2022