The Principles of Art, published in 1938, established a framework for understanding aesthetics as an expression of emotion rather than mere superstition. Robin George Collingwood, an English scholar whose career spanned philosophy, history, and archaeology, maintained that the primary role of the artist is to articulate the complex feelings shared by their community.
Academic Foundation
Born in 1889 in Cartmel Fell, Collingwood attended Rugby School before advancing to University College, Oxford. By 1912, he had secured a congratulatory First in Greats, focusing on ancient history and philosophy. His early intellectual development was shaped by F. J. Haverfield, alongside a deep engagement with the work of Italian idealists like Benedetto Croce, Giovanni Gentile, and Guido de Ruggiero.
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Collingwood conceptualized philosophy as thought of the second degree, characterizing it as the rigorous examination of the thinking process itself. During his tenure as a fellow at Pembroke College and later as the Waynflete Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy at Magdalen College, he argued that history functions as a science of the human mind rather than the physical world.
The Re-enactment of Thought
In his seminal work, The Idea of History, published posthumously in 1946, Collingwood critiqued the scissors-and-paste method of historical research. He advocated for the use of historical imagination, asserting that by analyzing evidence, a historian can re-enact the actual thought processes of historical actors. He insisted that if a historian reasons correctly, they can achieve a genuine understanding of the past.
Later Years and Legacy
Throughout his life, Collingwood was a practicing Anglican and a dedicated academic. During the First World War, he contributed to admiralty intelligence in London between 1915 and 1918. Following years of health struggles caused by recurring strokes, he died in 1943 in Coniston and is buried at St Andrew Churchyard.
Fast facts
- Born: 1889, Cartmel Fell
- Died: 1943, Coniston
- Education: Rugby School, University College, Oxford
- Primary Employers: Pembroke College, Magdalen College
- Key Works: The Principles of Art (1938), The Idea of History (1946)
- Professional Memberships: British Academy, German Archaeological Institute
- Religion: Anglicanism
Questions readers ask
What was Collingwood's view on historical evidence?
He rejected the practice of dismissing historical sources that seem implausible, arguing that historians should instead investigate the rational context behind such claims.
How did he define the relationship between history and science?
He categorized history as a science because it is an organized body of knowledge, but distinguished it from natural sciences because history deals with human thought rather than the physical world.
Achievements
- Held posts at Magdalen College
