The Metaphysical Club (Harvard)

The Metaphysical Club was an informal group of philosophers and intellectuals at Harvard University in the late 19th century, notably around the 1870s. Key figures included William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. They discussed ideas about belief, truth, and the nature of reality, contributing significantly to pragmatism—an approach that emphasizes the practical consequences of ideas as critical to their meaning. This group influenced American philosophy and shaped discussions around how ideas relate to real-world experiences and actions, marking a shift away from more traditional metaphysical thinking.