Constance Naden’s Metaphysics: Hylo-Idealism’s Ideal Known World and Unknown Matter

Thomas, Emily

Abstract

In 1880s Britain, Constance Naden defended “hylo-idealism,” a theory aiming to unify materialism with idealism. This paper offers the first sustained study of Naden’s metaphysical system. On this new reading of Naden’s hylo-idealism, her materialism is carefully qualified; and her idealism is distinctively Kantian, her construal of the external cosmos as Unknown placing her within the Victorian school of metaphysical agnostics. I distinguish Naden’s system from that of fellow hylo-idealist Robert Lewins and argue it lies closer to that of evolutionist Thomas Henry Huxley. Against various critics, I show that Naden has the resources to rebuff objections facing hylo-idealism. This paper seeks to open further avenues for Naden scholarship and help us better understand Victorian metaphysics more generally.

Citation

Thomas, E. (2024). Constance Naden’s Metaphysics: Hylo-Idealism’s Ideal Known World and Unknown Matter. Journal of the History of Philosophy, 62(3), 475-499

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 16, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jul 13, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-07
• Deposit Date: Nov 17, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 13, 2024
• Journal: Journal of the History of Philosophy
• Print ISSN: 0022-5053
• Electronic ISSN: 1538-4586
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 62
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 475-499
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1186352