My concern here is with the possibility of defending some of R. G. Collingwood’s views regarding the roles of inference and ‘re-enactment’ in ‘doing history’. The difficulties encountered result from the fact that Collingwood never presented his views in an altogether clear and complete form, and the fact that several metaphysical and epistemological problems are involved. The specific problems dealt with are, for the most part, those which seem most easily disposed of by an adequate interpretation of Collingwood.

A fascinating collection of revealing memoirs by sixty-four philosophers discussing how they fell in love with philosophy, their calling to this life in pursuit of wisdom, and how they eventually or suddenly became philosophers.