Though his work is seldom discussed today, during his forty years of scholarly activity James Ward was one of the most formidable intellectual figures in the English-speaking world. At the height of his powers he held the chair in mental philosophy and logic at Cambridge University, and he is one of the few individuals to have twice delivered the prestigious Gifford Lectures. Ward was also one of the leading psychologists of his day; his views were seen by many as revolutionizing the field.

Ward was born in Hull, Yorkshire, on 27 January 1843, the first of three sons and six daughters of James and Hannah Ashton Ward, devout Calvinistic Congregationalists. His father was a Liverpool businessman who, though at times successful, was known for his speculative and risky ventures. Ward studied at the Liverpool Institute until age eleven, when his parents decided that he should attend the Mostyn Home Academy...