SOTT Focus:

MindMatters: R.G. Collingwood - The Forgotten Philosopher

Harrison Koehli, Adam Daniels, Elan Martin, L.P. Koch
Sott.net
Sat, 12 Feb 2022 00:00 UTC

Primarily known for his philosophy of history, British philosopher R.G. Collingwood's life was cut short in 1943 at the age of 53. As Ray Monk puts it, his replacement by Gilbert Ryle "changed the course of philosophy forever," and not in a good way. Collingwood's clear, expansive, and incisive style was replaced by the ratiocentric style of the analytic philosophers. But despite his lack of popularity today, Collingwood's works remain a source of profound insight and clear thought. From history and aesthetics, to metaphysics, religion, and political theory, Collingwood was one of the twentieth century's great thinkers, and today, to discuss his life and work (including his classic Autobiography), we are joined by the newest member of the MindMatters team, L.P. Koch.

Running Time: 01:24:22

Download: MP3 — 116 MB

Adam Daniels

Adam joined the editorial team in 2014 and is a co-host of MindMatters. His particular interests include philosophy, history, exercise science, and technology. He particularly dislikes Critical Race Theory and people who're so afraid of death that they prevent others from living. He also knows kung fu.

Harrison Koehli

Harrison Koehli co-hosts SOTT Radio Network's MindMatters, and is an editor for Red Pill Press. He has been interviewed on several North American radio shows about his writings on the study of ponerology. In addition to music and books, Harrison enjoys tobacco and bacon (often at the same time) and dislikes cell phones, vegetables, and fascists (commies too).

Elan Martin

Born and raised in New York City, Elan has been an editor for SOTT.net since 2014 and is a co-host for MindMatters. He enjoys seeing and sharing what's true about our profoundly and rapidly changing world.

Reader Comments

Shangri · 2022-02-13T22:02:06Z

Enjoyed the discussion.

since there's a beginning, it never ends - after.

Thank-You.

graeme15b · 2022-02-13T22:54:48Z

Nice show, thank you.

I haven't read any R.G. Collingwood books for a few years.

I will read the books again and I found them to be brilliant with much depth.

alexal60 · 2022-02-14T12:37:04Z

Important philosopher in the world ?? Nobody knows him, perhaps his mentors Benedetto Croce and others, yes .....

hobnob · 2022-02-14T19:18:23Z

Hm, I read Speculum Mentis, and as intelligible as it is it probably goes over my head. Art can feel like a revelation when certain keys unlock certain emotional interpretations and personal applications, and that's not necessarily a complete fiction, though it could be. It's probably more tolerable than Nietzsche in a way, who says we just have to pretend certain fictions are real so that the world makes sense, but then his way of thinking, all reality is illusion, all reality is art, might be more in line with what's really going on, a projection "from above," to lose all my ability to speak comprehensibly in this instance.

He especially liked Christianity since Jesus made the transcendent real and in the world, I guess. Another perspective would see the disconnect in Christianity from reality, excluding knowledge that comes from elsewhere, obsessions with non-spiritual issues, understanding Paul's letters as 'let Jesus do everything for them' instead of taking the stale parts of Jewish Law as karma to be overcome or extinguished like in any eastern religion. China had its high God, now conflated with the Confucian Heaven, but Confucius brings it "down to earth" via sincere (knowing what's good and bad) self-improvement, and respecting ancestors and elders, and conforming to society when it's good for you. Stoicism brings everything down to earth, because unlike one incarnated Logos named Jesus, a stoic will immediately tell you that you have this will that comes from on high and these rational functions that come from on high, you yourself are an active participant. Buddhism and forms of Hinduism have salvation theologies without the exclusiveness of Christianity.

Anyway, things to criticize.

parzival · 2022-02-18T18:31:21Z

THE SECRET OF THE FUTURE (It's Why The 'Elites' Are So Scared Right Now) | INSPIRED 2022 [Link]

Buffalo_Ken · 2022-02-21T15:32:19Z

Wow - based on that intro I think I appreciate Collingwood's ideas. Metaphysics as I understand is critical today. We need it.

Thanks,

BK

Buffalo_Ken · 2022-02-21T15:47:17Z

I'm 26+ minutes in and thinking about absolute presuppositions.....seems like if it is absolute (only one form) then a presupposition (a thought or idea not known with certainty but supposed to be a certain way), that it means we have to live with uncertainty. I don't mind uncertainty. This is a very nice video and much appreciated. 28 minutes in now talking about natural curiousity.

Thanks,

BK

Buffalo_Ken · 2022-02-22T15:00:42Z

Tis 22222 1000 - Thank-you for this article.

Learning about absolute presuppositions has opened up a world full of mystery for me.

BK

parzival · 2022-02-23T07:05:37Z

I loved in the show that the point was raised that 'one is never right'... Presuppositions... Meanwhile, religion, especially Abrahamic Religions are irrational & forces of irrationality. But, I believe the rational mind is not the only means of understanding, the Mind is more complex. The Logic/Rationality Mind Program is valuable but should be used where it is effective. It's NOT the only program.