The Philosophy of Enchantment: Studies in Folktale, Cultural Criticism, and Anthropology

by R.G. Collingwood, David Boucher (Editor), Wendy James (Editor)

This is the long-awaited publication of a set of writings by the British philosopher, historian, and archaeologist R.G. Collingwood (1889-1943) on critical, anthropological, and cultural themes only hinted at in his previously available work. At the core are six essays on folktale and magic in which Collingwood applies the principles of his philosophy of history to problems in the long-term evolution of human society and culture. The volume opens with three substantial introductory essays by the editors, authorities in their various fields, who provide their explanatory and contextual notes to guide the reader through the texts. The Philosophy of Enchantment highlights the broad range of Collingwood's intellectual engagements, their integration, and their relevance to current areas of debate in the fields of philosophy, cultural studies, social and literary history, and anthropology.

502 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2005

About the author

Robin George Collingwood was an English philosopher and historian. Collingwood was a fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, for some 15 years until becoming the Waynflete Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Reviews

[Rose]

I'm not quite sure what I was wanting/expecting from it, but I didn't finish it wholly satisfied.

[Andrew Higgins]

This is a brilliant book with excellent chapters and some of Collingwood's previously unpublished papers on fairy story - I will be using several sections in my research. Tolkien knew Collingwood and one can see some evidence of Collingwood's thoughts in Tolkien's On Fairy Stories - highly recommend!