British Philosophy in the Nineteenth Century

Abstract Book Abstract: This book presents a general account of British philosophy during the nineteenth century. Looking at debates in ethics, political theory, metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of science, it takes readers from the revolutionary feminism of Mary Wollstonecraft at the start of the century through to the dominance of British Idealism at its end. In addition to the small number of thinkers whose names are still well known, it explores the work of many other ‘minor’ figures whose contributions have been forgotten, all the time drawing out the dialogue that took place between the various different thinkers of the age. Key philosophical themes explored include the development of utilitarianism, the development of intuitionism, associationism, common sense philosophy, the Mill-Whewell debate, Comtism, the impact of evolutionary thinking, scientific naturalism, British Idealism, and the resurgence of theism.