Defence of Idealism by May Sinclair is a thought-provoking and articulate exploration of the philosophy of idealism. Sinclair presents a strong argument in favor of the concept of idealism, asserting that reality is ultimately shaped by our perceptions and beliefs.

The author delves deep into the complexities of idealism, addressing its criticisms and offering counterarguments to support its validity. Through engaging prose and insightful analysis, Sinclair challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of reality and the ways in which we perceive the world around us.

Overall, Defence of Idealism is a compelling and intellectually stimulating read that will appeal to readers interested in philosophy, metaphysics, and the nature of reality. Sinclair's thorough examination of idealism is sure to spark contemplation and debate among those who engage with her work.

Book Description:
The philosophy of Idealism, revived in eighteenth-century Europe by George Berkeley, argued against philosophical materialism by maintaining that Reality is a creation of the Mind. Despite its flourishing under the leadership of Hegel, Fichte, Schopenhauer, and Schelling, Idealism had definitely fallen into decline late in the nineteenth century and early in the twentieth. May Sinclair, the writer of many popular but philosophically provocative novels and part-time World War I ambulance corps-person, was an unlikely one to take up the torch of the old school and try to revive it yet again for the twentieth century. Most notably, in this treatise she tried to formulate a union of Idealistic Monism with the New Realism as epitomized by Bertrand Russell and his mathematics-based philosophy. How successful she was is a matter for the reader to judge, but this volume and its sequel (The New Idealism) provide fascinating insights into the mind of Sinclair herself, helping the twenty-first century reader better to understand this highly significant author as she wrote in the very midst of the Great War.