The Idea of Nature

Abstract

COLLINGWOOD'S illness and early death prevented him from saying fully or as effectively as possible all that he had to say. Prof. Knox, the editor, points out that the work now published was written in 1933–34, after the "Essay on Philosophical Method", and was intended as an application of that method. Since the author did not publish anything at the time, we may infer that he was not satisfied with it. In spite of some later revision it must be taken as no more than a substantial fragment. It suffers more than most of Collingwood's work from a tendency to rash statements and occasional labouring of small points. Nevertheless, the book is a valuable contribution to philosophy, and supplements what we have already of Collingwood's highly original and distinctive way of thought.

The Idea of Nature

By R. G. Collingwood. Pp. viii + 184. (Oxford: Clarendon Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1945.) 15s. net.