A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF R.G COLLINGWOOD'S CONCEPTION OF HISTORY IN THE IDEA OF HISTORY

Authors

  • Dr. Khriereizhunuo Dzuvichu Associate Professor, Department of History, Central University of Tamilnadu, Thiruvaur, Tamil Nadu, India Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/ShodhSamajik.v3.i3.2026.206

Keywords:

Re-enactment, Historiography, Philosophy, Imagination, Empathy, Objectivity, Subjectivity

Abstract

This paper is a critical analysis of R.G. Collingwood’s conception of history as presented in his seminal work The Idea of History. Collingwood’s philosophy of history introduces the concepts of re-enactment and historical imagination, positing that understanding history requires more than recounting events. It demands reliving the thoughts of historical characters and personalities. This paper explores the strengths and limitations of Collingwood’s theories, assessing their influence on modern historiography and their implications for historical methodology. Through a close analysis of his work, the paper concludes that while Collingwood’s approach to history has greatly enriched historiographical practices, it also raises questions about objectivity and interpretive limits.

References

Clark, G. (1957). The New Cambridge Modern History. Cambridge University Press.

Collingwood, R. G. (1946). The Idea of History. Oxford University Press.

Dilthey, W. (1910). The Essence of Philosophy (Das Wesen der Philosophie).

Dray, W. H. (1995). History as Re-enactment: R. G. Collingwood's Idea of History. Clarendon Press.

Oakeshott, M. (1999). On History and Other Essays. Liberty Fund.

Skinner, Q. (1969). Meaning and Understanding in the History of Ideas. History and Theory, 8(1), 3–53. https://doi.org/10.2307/2504188

White, H. (1987). The Content of the Form: Narrative Discourse and Historical Representation. Johns Hopkins University Press.

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Published

2026-11-02

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): Volume 3 Issue 3 October-December 2026

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Khriereizhunuo Dzuvichu (Author)

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