Collected Essays in Speculative Philosophy

Weaving together published articles with never-before published materials, Essays in Speculative Philosophy reveals for the first time the depth and breadth of James Bradley’s philosophical thought, and how much was lost with his untimely death. These essays are valuable not only for the insightful and novel contributions they make to the understanding of often-overlooked aspects of the thought of philosophers such F. H. Bradley, A. N. Whitehead and C. S. Peirce, but because, taken together, they reveal an eminent thinker making novel advances in metaphysics. -- Brian G. Henning, Gonzaga University
In the standard analytic historiography, philosophy was transformed in the 17th century from the handmaiden of theology into the handmaiden of the natural sciences. Bradley challenges this pervasive narrative by exploring the persisting theological dimension, especially the ontological–trinitarian structures, of much modern metaphysics, and boldly defends the contemporary relevance of philosophical Idealism. These are learned, brilliant and provocative essays that illuminate the thought of an unjustly neglected British–Canadian philosopher. -- Douglas Hedley, University of Cambridge
Bradley deftly weaves through the traditions of British, American and Continental philosophy on his way to establishing a speculative metaphysics that places emphasis on the Trinity and Trinitarian thinking. Along the way, Bradley encounters figures such as Plato, Plotinus, F.H. Bradley, Martin Heidegger, R.G. Collingwood and, of course, C.S. Peirce. Each of these and others serve to move Bradley’s arguments inexorably towards a metaphysics from a Trinitarian standpoint. A superb reading of the history of metaphysics. -- James Scott Johnston, Memorial University of Newfoundland