An Essay on Metaphysics

work by Collingwood

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

R.G. Collingwood's An Essay on Metaphysics (1940) proposes that metaphysical study should evaluate civilization's presuppositions as historically defined concepts, rather than as eternal truths. Collingwood, an English historian and philosopher, sought to reconcile philosophy and history. He argued that understanding history involves reliving past events in one's mind, by rethinking them within the context of one's own experience. This approach allows historians to uncover significant patterns in cultures and civilizations. Collingwood's work is recognized for its significant contribution to integrating history and philosophy.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

R.G. Collingwood
…on Philosophical Method (1933) and An Essay on Metaphysics (1940), he proposed the historical nature of civilization’s presuppositions and urged that metaphysical study evaluate these presuppositions as historically defined conceptions rather than as eternal verities. His last book, The Idea of History (1946), proposed history as a discipline in which…
Read More
…on Philosophical Method (1933) and An Essay on Metaphysics (1940), he proposed the historical nature of civilization’s presuppositions and urged that metaphysical study evaluate these presuppositions as historically defined conceptions rather than as eternal verities. His last book, The Idea of History (1946), proposed history as a discipline in which…
Read More