The London Dialectical Society was a British professional association that was formed in 1867, the basis of its constitution was "That truth is of all things the most to be desired, and is best elicited by the conflict of opposing opinions."
and that "the Society should afford a field for the philosophical consideration of all questions without reserve, but especially of those comprised in the domain of ethics, metaphysics, and theology".
[2] The Society was founded in 1867, with its inaugural meeting taking place on the 29th January, under the presidency of John Lubbock and its vice-president Dr. Andrew Clark[disambiguation needed].
An analysis of the subjects handled showed "as many as eleven were purely Sociological or Ethical, four Theological, three Political, one Metaphysical, and two of a mixed character" In its Prospectus, explaining the choice of name, it cited the Scottish philosopher Alexander Bain from his work on early philosophy and the importance of the Socratic method: The Society had a broad remit to allow "the most absolute freedom of debate" with no topic excluded from discussion (except on the grounds of "triviality").
It was these discussions that provoked the anger of the British Medical Journal referring to them as "abominable proceedings for the purpose of keeping down the numbers of our population".
For example, The Times described the report as "nothing more than a farrago of impotent conclusions, garnished by a mass of the most monstrous rubbish it has ever been our misfortune to sit judgement on.