Metaphysical Idealists in Britain: Constance Naden, Victoria Welby, and Arabella Buckley

Thomas, Emily

Abstract

Idealists agree that reality is somehow mental, holding say that reality comprises consciousness or spirit. Idealism can be developed in many different ways and, before the distinctive movement known as “British idealism” emerged, other idealisms were present in Britain. This chapter offers the first-ever study of female idealists in nineteenth century Britain. So far I have only found six such women, and this chapter focuses on the idealist metaphysics of Constance Naden, Victoria Welby, and Arabella Buckley. I situate their idealisms within the context of Victorian metaphysics; show that each develops a different kind of idealism, drawing on varied sources from Kant to Herbert Spencer; and contrast their idealisms with one another.

Citation

Thomas, E. (2023). Metaphysical Idealists in Britain: Constance Naden, Victoria Welby, and Arabella Buckley. In A. Stone, & L. Moland (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of American and British Women Philosophers in the Nineteenth Century (C34S1–C34N22). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197558898.013.34

• Online Publication Date: Aug 16, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Jul 1, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 17, 2025
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Pages: C34S1–C34N22
• Book Title: Oxford Handbook of American and British Women Philosophers in the Nineteenth Century
• ISBN: 9780197558898
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197558898.013.34
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1621355
• Contract Date: May 1, 2022