Episode 58, ‘The Idealism and Pantheism of May Sinclair’ with Emily Thomas

In this episode, Emily Thomas’ forthcoming article, “The Idealism and Pantheism of May Sinclair,” is discussed. Born in 1863, May Sinclair was a prolific novelist, as well as a deeply influential poet, translator, critic and philosopher. It Is this last field, philosophy, which perhaps she is least well known for her work. Amongst her many great novels, short stories and poems, May Sinclair published her philosophical treatise in A Defence of Idealism in 1917, and The New Idealism in 1922, which both form the focus of today’s discussion. Sinclair’s unusual take on questions concerning space and time, god, and classic philosophical problems such as Zeno’s paradox, provide a refreshing and exciting approach to human understanding of the universe. Combined with her great passion, wit, and her breathtaking writing style, it is no stretch to say that May Sinclair is one of the 20th-century’s most underrated philosophers.