May 20, 2012

Epilegomena is online



On the Mead Project, one can find Epilegomena, the second section in the book "Idea of History" by R. G. Collingwood, edited by his student and later a big volume, is online HERE. I will write on it on my Review View blog. The selective essays, or the Epilegomena are still quite relevant for the craft history. They were written before 1929. The conflict with positivists is quite evident. Secondly, at many places, Collingwood seems to be answering to his critics than to explain the craft. However, they are the finest explanation on the craft of history.


May 17, 2012

Philip Kitcher: Why History and the Humanities are Also a Form of Knowledge.

Philip Kitcher: Why History and the Humanities are Also a Form of Knowledge.

Above is the statement on how History can be science. No doubt, Collingwood had already elaborated it in his epilegomena. Philip Kitcher restated it in 21st terms.

Acknowledgement: hnn.us

May 07, 2012

Mediterranean Stupor



Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were their epic men. Crete, Mycenaean and Minoans were their seeds. Egypt and Babylon were recognized but underrated. Russel declared with pride accompanied with surprise the sudden rise of civilization in Greece. Sir Arthur Evan, the archaeologist, is the force, authority, testimony and validity behind that claim. The inheritance, like the origin of Virgin Mary, writing and mathematics are recognized but imperiousness of a claimant who does not suggest but emphatically tell that it is he who is right. Even Collingwood depicts similar attitude. I quote, “By what steps and stages did modern European idea of history come into existence? Since I (Collingwood here) do not think that any of these stages occurred outside Mediterranean region ... I am precluded from saying anything about about historical thought in China or in any other part of the world except the region I have mentioned.” Russel is surprised. Collingwood is precluded. The forces outside them decide that they adopt the premises that the counting begins and the action germinates from Mediterranean region. The English intellectuals of later nineteenth century are mainly the soldiers who fought positivism which had emerged by eighteenth century. Nature became a subject of invasion when they raised the army of positivism fighting the positivism. After all, how could they see the defeat of Christian theology? However, Nature yielded them the thoughts but there were thoughts before that also. The conflict was resolved by criticizing positivism outwardly but at inner side, they remained the soldiers of positivism. That positivism made them fight two wars. The two wars defeated positivism. They again went back to eighteenth century. The next stage has yet to come. Will they now seek surprises outside the Mediterranean Region.


Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *