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

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