Philosophy History and Civilization: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on R.G.Collingwood

Edited by David Boucher, James Connelly & Tariq Modood

Since his death in 1943 R.G. Collingwood's reputation as one of the twentieth century's leading minds has gradually been growing. He has made an immense impact in the areas of philosophy of history and aesthetics, and his work in metaphysics has been closely related to that of Thomas Kuhn. More recently his work on political philosophy has come to the forefront.
He is only English-speaking philosopher to have provided a grand theory of politics in the first half of the twentieth century, and he attempted to revive the social contract tradition in political philosophy twenty-five years before Rawls. In addition to his acknowledged philosophical acumen Collingwood was the world's leading expert on Roman inscriptions in Britain. Modern archaeologists still find considerable value in his work, especially in his attempts to apply his philosophy of history to archaeological problems.

This volume brings together leading academics from a variety of disciplines to discuss, and sometimes take issue with, Collingwood's contributions to philosophy, aesthetics, philosophy of history, political philosophy and archaeological theory. Collingwood's debt to Italian philosophy receives systematic consideration and the sources of his inspiration are meticulously identified.