R. G. Collingwood: An Autobiography and other writings: with essays on Collingwood's life and work - Hardcover

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9780199586035: R. G. Collingwood: An Autobiography and other writings: with essays on Collingwood's life and work

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199586039 ISBN 13: 9780199586035

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2013

This volume presents a many-faceted view of the Oxford philosopher R. G. Collingwood. At its centre is his Autobiography, published in 1939, which has the status of a cult classic for its compelling 'story of his thought'. Collingwood's work has enjoyed renewed attention in recent years, with new editions of his great philosophical works. This volume republishes the Autobiography alongside a previously unpublished account by Collingwood of a journey to the East Indies in 1938-1939. These writings are accompanied by eleven specially written essays. Several of these examine aspects of Collingwood's life―not just the Autobiography, but what he doesn't discuss in that work, from his childhood to his professorship at Oxford. And the essays also examine aspects of his work on philosophy, politics, history, and archaeology, in the context of his life.

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Review:

[G]uaranteed to get the reader on his or her toes ... this volume is invaluable for Collingwoodian scholarship (Collingwood and British Idealism Studies)

A polymath as skilled in archaeology as he was in philosophy, a staunch opponent of appeasement and an early hater of the Daily Mail. Collingwood has been my guide for many years. (Niall Ferguson, Civilization)

Before I read this book there was chaos in my thoughts regarding my subject matter: having finished it, I knew perfectly well what I was going to argue for. My deepest gratitude is due to this unjustly neglected author. (Agnes Heller, A theory of History, Viii)

The new edition includes a facsimile of the first printing [...] followed by various maps and illustrations, and a mass of supplementary essays. (Jonathan R�e, London Review of Books)

Collingwood's remark helps us to look for the answers different writers give to their (not our) questions. To this end we must try to think ourselves into each writer's scheme of thought. (John Rawls, Lectures on the History of Political Philosophy)

If these scholars have anything methodologically in common, it might be summarised as a desire to stress the historicity of the history of political theory and of intellectual history more generally. Collingwood himself expressed this commitment by demanding that we should aim to recover the precise questions to which the philosophical texts we study were designed as answers. (Quentin Skinner, The History of Political Thought in National Context)

a fascinating and often brilliant book (Bernard Williams, The Sense of the Past)

About the Author:

David Boucher is Professor in Political Philosophy and International Relations, Cardiff University, and Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Johannesburg. He is also Vice President of the Learned Society of Wales. His most recent books are The Limits of Ethics in International Relations (Oxford University Press, 2009) and British Idealism: a guide for the perplexed (with AnThe New Leviathan, revised edition (1992), and The Philosophy of Enchantment (with Wendy James and Philip Smallwood, 2005). Teresa Smith is R. G. Collingwoods daughter by his second wife, Kate Collingwood. Since the 1970s she has worked closely with Collingwood scholars across the world to assemble material on and promote interest in R G Collingwoods work. Much of this material has now been deposited in the Bodleian library. After studying Greats and social policy at Oxford, she worked in educational research, and was appointed University Lecturer at Oxford in the 1970s, later fellow of St Hildas College, and head of the (then) Department of Social Policy and Social Work 1997-2005. Her research areas cover early childhood education, educational disadvantage and parental involvement. She is currently working on the national evaluation of Childrens Centres in England. She has also published on R G and his father W G Collingwood.

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