Collingwood argues eloquently that to understand past events we must understand the ideas, thoughts and motives behind them. History is for human selfknowledgethe only clue to what man can do is what man has done. Collingwood, who was both a professor of philosophy at oxford and a practicing historian, was engaged in what he intended as a major contribution to the philosophy of history. Collingwoods philosophy of mind and action is thus to be found in his philosophy of history, primarily in the idea of history 1946. However, there have been sharp disagreements about the acceptability of this idea, and even its meaning. The idea of history is the best known work of the oxford philosopher and historian rg collingwood. Collingwood considers how the modern idea of history has grown up from the time of herodotus to the present day. Collingwoods manuscripts, many of which were subsequently destroyed. During his career collingwood attempted to integrate and understand human experience and knowledge, and to bring together history and philosophy. Published posthumously in 1946, it examines how the idea of history has evolved from the time of herodotus to the twentieth century, and offers collingwood s own view of what history is. It was originally published posthumously in 1946, having been mainly reconstructed from collingwoods manuscripts, many of which are now lost. Students look to collingwood for a history of thinking about history, and to discover his ideas about the nature of historical understanding.
The value of history, then, is that it teaches us what man has done and thus what man is. Only by immersing oneself in the mental actions behind events, by rethinking the past within the context of ones own experience, can the historian discover. Collingwood british historian and philosopher britannica. Collingwood s philosophy of history is the idea that historical understanding requires a reenactment of past experience. T m knox based on lectures written in 1936 on the philosophy of history. Collingwood was born 22 february 1889 in cartmel, grangeoversands, in. The idea of history was originally published posthumously in 1946, having been reconstructed from the late r. The claim that history is the study of mind is prima facie counterintuitive because many of us tend to think of history as a descriptive science of the past rather than as a normative science of thought. Books by collingwood, harry sorted by popularity project gutenberg books by collingwood, harry sorted by popularity. This important work examines how the idea of history has evolved from the time of herodotus to the twentieth century, and offers collingwood s own view of what history is. Collingwood has 43 books on goodreads with 4886 ratings. Collingwood s philosophy of mind and action is thus to be found in his philosophy of history, primarily in the idea of history 1946 and the principles of history 1999 both of which were posthumously published. Collingwoods most popular book is the idea of history. Buy the idea of history book online at best prices in india on.
Deeply influenced by his father, a painter and archaeologist who was a friend and biographer of john ruskin, collingwood was educated at home until he was. It was originally published posthumously in 1946, having been mainly reconstructed from collingwood s manuscripts, many of which are now lost. History of the collingwood football club wikipedia. To collingwood, history is not contained in books and documents, it lives only as a present interest and pursuit, in the mind of the historian when he criticizes and interprets those. Robin george collingwood stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Offered is a well used example of the idea of history by r. According to collingwood, the science which is dedicated to the study of mind is history. Published posthumously in 1946 it is, in effect, two books. The collingwood football club was born on the cusp of one of the worlds worst depressions in february 1892. The idea of history is the bestknown work of the great oxford philosopher, historian, and archaeologist r. The principles of art, the idea of history, the idea of nature, and an autobiography. All history is the history of thought is collingwood s main premise in the idea of history. Four of his books are available in paperback from oxford university press.
Robin george collingwood, fba 1889 1943 was an english historian, philosopher, and archaeologist most famous his philosophical works. Project gutenberg offers 61,504 free ebooks for kindle, ipad, nook, android, and iphone. In terms of methodology, collingwood s book can be divided into two main sections. The idea of history is the bestknown book of the great oxford philosopher, historian, and archaeologist r.
The author attempts to get at what exactly it means when refers to. Collingwood, english historian and philosopher whose work provided a major 20thcentury attempt to reconcile philosophy and history. In 1940 he revised part of the 1936 manuscript, especially the section on greece and rome, and rechristened it the idea of history. Along with the principles of art 1938, collingwood s the idea of history was his bestknown work, originally collated from numerous sources following his death by a student of his, t. The author attempts to get at what exactly it means when refers to studying history and what the heck history is in the first place. All history is the history of thought is collingwoods main premise in the idea of history. Buy the idea of history book online at low prices in india.
Of the two projected books the second began to take shape in the spring of 1939 when, during a short stay in java, collingwood started to write the principles of history. Collingwood s the idea of history would be more correctly classified as a work of philosophy than a work of history, as the primary goal of the work is to present collingwood s philosophical conception of the nature of history. Publication date 1946 topics rmsc collection digitallibraryindia. Other articles where the idea of history is discussed. Collingwood, author of the idea of history, on librarything. Collingwood idea of history robin george collingwood, or r. Collingwood s the idea of history is arguably one of the most important books in the 20th century on history and the study of. The idea of history work by collingwood britannica. But though he meant eventually to make it a companion volume to the idea of nature, he was unfortunately unable to work on it any further. The book begins at the point where collingwood believes the writing of history began. Collingwood was wayflete professor of metaphysical philosophy in the university of oxford from 1935 to 1941. The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve.
He is best known for his philosophical works, including the principles of art 1938 and the posthumously published the idea of history 1946. Collingwoods the idea of history is arguably one of the most important books in the 20th century on history and the study of. Collingwood played its first game in the victorian football association, the premier football competition at the time, against carlton football club on 7 may 1892. The first is an historical account of how the modern idea of history has developed from herodotus to the twentieth century. Collingwood s philosophy of mind and action is thus to be found in his philosophy of history, primarily in the idea of history 1946. His last book, the idea of history 1946, proposed history as a discipline in which one relives the past in ones own mind. Collingwood as he is more usually known, was waynefleet professor of metaphysical philosophy at oxford university from 1935 to 1941. Collingwood this the idea of history book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands. The book came to be a major inspiration for philosophy of history in the englishspeaking world. Hello select your address best sellers help new releases gift ideas gift cards home books sell computers help new releases gift ideas gift cards.
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