History as a Science: The Philosophy of R.G. Collingwood

van der Dussen, W.J. [Willem Jan]

ISBN 10: 9024724538 / ISBN 13: 9789024724536

Published by Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague, Boston & London, 1981

About this Item

1981. xv, 480pp. Beige hardcover with titles in black to spine and upper board. No jacket as issued.Excellent condition with no inscriptions. PLEASE NOTE: heavyish book so a little extra may be needed for shipping to non-UK customers. "Collingwood's views on history have played a vital role in the discussions on philosophy of history since World War II and in recent studies their importance has again been endorsed. However, there is no aspect of his contributions in this field about which his interpreters do not disagree. This is primarily due to the fact that nearly all interpretations have been exclusively based on the posthumously published Idea of History, without sufficiently realizing that it is hardly possible to give an accurate account of Collingwood's ideas on history resting only on this book. In this study, which gives the first systematic discussion of Collingwood's philosophy of history, Collingwood's ideas on the subject are put into a broader context. Two new areas are extensively dealt with which were unknown before or neglected until now: Collingwood's unpublished manuscripts, which have been available since 1978, and his contributions to archaeology and history (Collingwood was an acknowledged expert in the field of Roman Britain). The book consists of three parts. In the first the development of Collingwood's views on history is discussed, developing the thesis that there is a dividing line between the writings before and after 1926. Then an analysis is given of The Idea of History and the many discussions it roused, showing a remarkable diversity of interpretations. The second part discusses the unpublished manuscripts and Collingwood's contributions to archaeology and history. The manuscripts give an extremely important insight into Collingwood's views on history. They are not only clarifying with regard to many controversial issues, but also show the ideas Collingwood developed on a subject like anthropology, which were not known before. Following this, Collingwood's contributions to archaeology and history are dealt with, concentrating on their methodological aspects. It is shown that there is indeed a clear connection to be seen between his theoretical views on history and his archaeological and historical practice. In the final part of the book an attempt is made to give a general interpretation of the most important aspects of Collingwood's philosophy of history. Not only traditional issues are dealt with, such as the notorious re-enactment doctrine, but also issues that have hardly received any attention until now.".

Seller Inventory # hPhilCollingwood03

Bibliographic Details

• Title: History as a Science: The Philosophy of R.G. Collingwood
• Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague, Boston & London
• Publication Date: 1981
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9024724538
• ISBN 13: 9789024724536
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Archaeology/Early History
  • Philosophy & Related

About this title

Synopsis

1. 1. COLLINGWOOD'S RECEPTION Collingwood's scholarly reputation is a complicated and variegated affair. For one has not only to make a' distinction between his reputation during his life and after his premature death in 1943, but also between his reputation as a philosopher and as an archaeologist and historian. Collingwood himself considered philosophy as his primary occupation and his work in archaeology and history as that of an amateur. This work, however, reached the highest standards and his contributions to archaeology and history have always been appreciated accordingly. Though Collingwood's reputation as the main expert on Roman Britain in the period between the two wars remains unchallenged, modern developments in this field have inevitably superseded his contributions and made them primarily voices from a past period. Philosophy was the other half of Collingwood's scholarly life. In his own thinking there was always a close relationship between philosophy and archaeological and histor ical practice. His interpreters have not always recognized this connection. I have met archaeologists who were surprised to hear that Collingwood was a philosopher as well, who either did not know that he had been a practising and philosophers archaeologist and historian, or thought it no more than a private hobby. Collingwood's reputation as a philosopher was very different from the one he gained in archaeology and history. For in the philosophical climate at Oxford between the wars he was always an isolated figure.