R. G. Collingwood - The Idea of History: With Lectures 1926-1928

The Idea of History is undoubtedly Collingwood best-known book. From its appearance in 1946 it has aroused much attention, and in the subsequent discussions on the philosophy of history, as they have developed since the Second World War, it has in fact never failed to play a crucial role. One could even say that is appearance has been a major factor in the revival of the interest in the philosophy of history, a subject formerly usually associated with German philosophers around the turn of the century like Dilthey, Windelband, and Rickert. The many reprints and translations of The Idea of History are another indication of its permanent influence.

In this revised edition of The Idea of History the original text remains intact. To this has been added, however, new material from Collingwood unpublished manuscripts, which have only recently become available. In this way it will be possible to study Collingwood views on the philosophy of history within the context of his main work on the subject.

The original edition of The Idea of History had been edited posthumously by his pupil T. M. Knox. The latter added to it a preface in which Collingwood philosophy of history was put into the wider context of his philosophical views and their development. Subsequent research on Collingwood philosophy, however, has brought out some important inadequacies of the interpretations given by Knox in his preface. A new introduction was therefore needed, taking into account the research on Collingwood philosophy of history as it has developed during the subsequent decades.

In this new introduction I explain how the publication of The Idea of History has taken shape and also assess the way the book was edited by Knox. This is followed by a short exposition of the reception of The Idea of History. Since for a proper assessment of Collingwood philosophy of history it is necessary to put it into an appropriate context, the development of his ideas on the subject must be considered. In this connection I have also made an attempt to assess the nature of the newly added manuscripts of 1926, 1927, and 1928.

The new and somewhat lengthy introduction to this revised

-v-

edition of The Idea of History is especially needed with a view to the rather complicated way this book has come about. It should in this connection in particular be noted that it is in fact a composition of contributions by Collingwood to the philosophy of history ranging from 1926 to 1939. In order to make this clear the dates of the various parts of the original edition of The Idea of History have been added to its table of contents.

I am sure that I am speaking for everyone when I express my gratitude to Mrs Teresa Smith, daughter of Collingwood, for allowing the publication of his previously unpublished lectures on the philosophy of history in this revised edition of The Idea of History. I am confident that it will be welcomed not only by the growing group of scholars and students interested in Collingwood thought, but also by philosophers and historians in general. The Idea of History has been widely read since its publication, and I am confident that this revised edition has much to offer both the new generation of Collingwood's readers, and those familiar with the first edition.

Special appreciation should also be expressed to Oxford University Press for publishing The Idea of History in its present form, and especially to Mrs Angela Blackburn and Mrs Frances Morphy, who, in co-operation with Mrs Teresa Smith, have done so much to make it possible.

I would also like to use this opportunity to express my special appreciation to Martijn Bakker, Marjet Derks, Leo ten Hag, Anita Hendricx, Rik Peters, and Herman Simissen, all members of a group of Collingwoodian friends and students, with whom I have not only discussed for some years the many aspects of Collingwood philosophy, but who have also assisted with editing the manuscripts.

Finally I would like to thank David Boucher and Professor Dray both for their invaluable help in making my English more or less tolerable and for their critical comments.

W.J.v.d.D.

Heerlen July 1992

-vi-