The Papers of the Metaphysical Society 1869–1880: A Critical Edition ed. by Catherine Marshall, Bernard Lightman, and Richard England (review)

The Metaphysical Society was composed of many leading figures of the Victorian intelligentsia, including scientists, politicians, religious figures, etc., who met to discuss a broad range of topics. The debates of the Metaphysical Society only lasted eleven years, from 1869 to 1880, though the sixty-two members produced a total of ninety-five papers. As the editors of this edition note, "The wealth of discussion provides a fascinating insight into the struggle to define and control a set of values that could guide metaphysical belief, scientific practice, and social policy" (1). While many prominent thinkers participated in the Society, the editors of this edition point out that John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, John Henry Newman, and Matthew Arnold were not participants. Mill, Spencer, and Newman were asked to join, though declined for various reasons, while Arnold does not seem to have been asked to join at all (2). The members held a variety of religious beliefs and approached the circulated topics from various perspectives.

Despite the Metaphysical Society's historical significance, the editors of this edition rightly point out that there are few substantive examinations of it. This edition is split into three volumes. The first volume includes an introduction, along with papers 1–30. The second volume includes papers 31–64, and the third volume includes papers 65–95, bibliographies, and an index. The papers in this edition also include a scholarly apparatus, which includes an introduction, annotations, and headnotes. Also included in this edition are illustrated portraits of the members of the Society. The introduction describes what the Metaphysical Society was and how it functioned within its historical context. It also provides an historiographical narration of scholarship pertaining to the Metaphysical Society and how this edition fits into the prevailing scholarship. Likewise, the introduction provides a helpful description of the apparatus used to evaluate the papers.

This critical edition of the Metaphysical Society Papers provides a necessary and valuable resource for Newman scholars and scholars interested in Victorian intellectual history. This edition is of value for scholars directly and indirectly interested in Newman and Newman-related topics, Victorian and British history, history of science, philosophy, etc. Particularly for Newman scholarship, this edition provides primary source background for topics that Newman himself often commented on, even though Newman did not participate directly with the Metaphysical Society. Many of the participants—Alfred Lord Tennyson, William George Ward, and Henry Sidgwick, just to name a few—corresponded directly with Newman concerning similar topics as those presented in the Metaphysical Society.

The target audience for these volumes are those interested in the primary source content, as well as the history and thought of elite Victorian thinkers. The introduction, commentary, apparatus, and indices make these high-level essays more accessible. The footnotes are thorough and helpful when placing the source material within its proper historical context. Given the expense of this edition, it comes highly recommended for libraries and those directly interested in the Metaphysical Society. As a resource, however, this edition is essential for those interested in the broad range of topics discussed, as well as the history of the discussion and the persons involved in the Metaphysical Society.