The Idea of History: With Lectures 1926-1928 - Softcover

Collingwood, R. G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0192853066 ISBN 13: 9780192853066

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 1994

Synopsis

The Idea of History is the best-known work of the great Oxford philosopher, historian, and archaeologist R.G. Collingwood. It was originally published posthumously in 1946, having been mainly reconstructed from Collingwood's manuscripts, many of which are now lost. 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. For this revised edition, Collingwood's most important lectures on the philosophy of history are published here for the first time. These texts have been prepared by Jan van der Dussen from manuscripts that have only recently become available. The lectures contain Collingwood's first comprehensive statement of his philosophy of history; they are therefore essential for a full understanding of his thought, and in particular for a correct interpretation of The Idea of History itself. Van der Dussen contributes a substantial introduction in which he explains the background to this new edition and surveys the scholarship of the last fifty years.

About this title

Review:

'This is a big book, and a difficult one, but for anybody who takes history seriously, it is essential.' (The Observer Review)

'Welcome reprint of the classic lectures delivered by an Oxford philosopher-historian 60 years ago. A most influential book.' (Good Book Guide)

Synopsis:

The Idea of History is the best-known work of the great Oxford philosopher, historian, and archaeologist R. G. Collingwood. 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. This revised edition has a substantial new introduction which discusses how scholars have responded to Collingwood's classic over the last fifty years. It also makes available for the first time some of Collingwood's lectures on the philosophy of history - essential for a fuller understanding of his thought, and in particular for the interpretation of The Idea of History itself.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0192853066
• ISBN 13: 9780192853066
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 576
• Editor: Dussen Jan Van Der