Revisions and Reconstructions in the Thought of R.G. Collingwood - by Peter Johnson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Opening new ground in neglected aspects of R.G. Collingwood's philosophy, Peter Johnson presents essays on Collingwood as a pre-historian, economist, Christian and commentator of Edward Gibbon together with an investigation into the connection between his later works.

The chapters shed light on Collingwood's distinctive account of pre-history, the relationship between his last great works The Principles of History and The New Leviathan, and his views on money in comparison to those of J.M. Keynes. They also consider his assessment of Edward Gibbon as a historian and his use of biblical citation in relation to the work of Thomas Hobbes. Johnson's insightful reflections and in-depth analysis of a range of areas in Collingwood's thinking connect them through historical and conceptual themes relevant to contemporary debates about his philosophy.

Uniting important and unique perspectives for understanding the scope and depth of Collingwood's philosophy, Johnson's detailed examination of previously underexplored topics will be welcomed by students and scholars across philosophy of history, pre-history, economic theory, intellectual history and philosophical hermeneutics.

Review Quotes

"Revisions and Reconstructions is a diverse collection, ranging from intertextual studies with Thomas Hobbes, Edward Gibbon, and John Maynard Keynes to revisionist examinations of Collingwood's concepts of pre-history and of the principles of art and history." --Journal of Religious History

About the Author

Peter Johnson is Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Philosophy, University of Southampton, UK.