HISTORY AS THOUGHT & ACTION

This is the first book-length study of the relationship between Benedetto Croce (1866-1952), Giovanni Gentile (1875-1944), Guido de Ruggiero (1888-1948) and Robin George Collingwood (1889-1943). Though the relationship between these highly influential philosophers has often been discussed, it has never been studied comprehensively. On the basis of published and unpublished writings this study carefully reconstructs their debate on the relationship between thought and action, following their explorations of art, history, philosophy and action in the context of the First World War and the rise of Fascism and Nazism. This book unveils the hidden past of contemporary philosophy of history and divulges the last secret of Collingwood's Italian connection. Dr Rik Peters is Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Groningen.

"It is certainly to the benefit of Collingwood scholars to have such an account finally collected together in one place...Peters' main point is...that Collingwood is not as deeply indebted for his doctrines to the Italians named in the title as many contemporary historians of ideas assume...(Peters') reward is the knowledge that History as Thought and Action will stand as the authoritative statement on Collingwood's relation to Italian philosophy for many years."

"[A] meticulously researched and scholarly adventure into the philosophical complexities of intellectual interactions... the principal aim of the book is to bring into focus the crucial role, not influence, that the Italians had in the development of Collingwood's thought... The originality and value of the enterprise is that Peters demonstrates, with strong, evidentially based arguments, not at what points the thinkers agree, but instead how the conclusions that each reached gave rise to new problems for the others. The argument is philosophically sophisticated and thoroughly grounded in published material, marginalia, and extensive correspondence... This book is a model of scholarship and has an immense value for anyone interested in the development of philosophical ideas and their relationship to each other beyond mere influence or imitation."

"This book is a model for a proper intellectual history... It is learned, rigorous, complex, and detailed... Gentile's thought is finally given its due and De Ruggiero gets the kind of sympathetic treatment long overdue in the Anglophone world... [T]his is not only an original contribution to philosophy of history but also to the philosophy of the history of ideas. Impressive."

"[C]ontains within it some fairly controversial new insights into philosophy's long-running love affair with state power... What Peters brings to the table is a new and original analysis of the personal stories and intellectual debates that went on in the early years in Italy, when 'fascism' was still, essentially, a matter for metaphysicians to wrangle about."

"The great era of Italian neo-idealism, that had its greatest representatives in Giovanni Gentile and Benedetto Croce, and its most esteeemed interpreter in R.G. Collingwood, emerges, via the figure of Guido de Ruggiero, from this interesting volume by Rik Peters, who presents, referencing a wealth of evidence, a lucid and perceptive examination of a school of thought that profoundly influenced civil life."