Toynbee and History: Critical Essays and Reviews
Stars
4
Length
385 pages
Author
Edited by M.R. Ashley Montagu
Eras
History of Mankind (5000 BC - present)
Types
Philosophy
Synopsis
"Editor Ashley Montagu (the famous anthropologist) wrote in the Foreword to this 1956 collection of essays, "Toynbee's A Study of History: Abridgement of Volumes I-VI constitutes one of the most famous and widely discussed books of its time... By gathering together... views and criticisms of Toynbee's particular treatment of their own fields, some approach may be made to a balanced and well-considered judgment ... In addition ... are the insights into Toynbee's work provided by literary critics and humanists." There are also reprinted in this book several essays by Toynbee himself, as well as a concluding essay.
Toynbee argues, "We need to break down the traditional partition, and to throw history and the social sciences together into a single comprehensive study of human affairs." (Pg. 5) He admits,"More than twenty-seven years have now passed since I began to make my first notes ... and I am conscious that, during these years, my outlook has changed. As I have gone on, religion has come, once again, to take the central place in my picture of the Universe. Yet I have not returned to the religious outlook in which I was brought up... I have now come to believe that all the historic religions and philosophies are partial revelations of the truth..." (Pg. 6)
One critic contends that "There does not appear... to be any evidence for Dr. Tonybee's principal contention that civilizations die because men have lost their faith and taken up arms against one another." (Pg. 106) Another charges, "Not only are Professor Toynbee's basic assumptions often questionable, and his application of them often arbitrary, but his technical method turns out to be not 'empirical' at all. The theories are not deduced from the facts, nor tested by them." (Pg. 123) Another points out that Toynbee gives 'almost no references to hundreds of important studies by psycho-social scientists of the problems treated by Toynbee." (Pg. 189-190)
Another notes, "it is difficult to see why he limits his category of Living Religions to four only: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Mahayana Buddhism." (Pg. 134) Another observes that "Toybee carries on a prolonged theological discussion with... a Christian, who eventually draws from our author an admission that he is no longer a Christian." (Pg. 313)
This volume is an excellent work for anyone wanting to know more about Toynbee (and would even be an excellent introducton to him)." [from an Amazon reviewer]
Toynbee argues, "We need to break down the traditional partition, and to throw history and the social sciences together into a single comprehensive study of human affairs." (Pg. 5) He admits,"More than twenty-seven years have now passed since I began to make my first notes ... and I am conscious that, during these years, my outlook has changed. As I have gone on, religion has come, once again, to take the central place in my picture of the Universe. Yet I have not returned to the religious outlook in which I was brought up... I have now come to believe that all the historic religions and philosophies are partial revelations of the truth..." (Pg. 6)
One critic contends that "There does not appear... to be any evidence for Dr. Tonybee's principal contention that civilizations die because men have lost their faith and taken up arms against one another." (Pg. 106) Another charges, "Not only are Professor Toynbee's basic assumptions often questionable, and his application of them often arbitrary, but his technical method turns out to be not 'empirical' at all. The theories are not deduced from the facts, nor tested by them." (Pg. 123) Another points out that Toynbee gives 'almost no references to hundreds of important studies by psycho-social scientists of the problems treated by Toynbee." (Pg. 189-190)
Another notes, "it is difficult to see why he limits his category of Living Religions to four only: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Mahayana Buddhism." (Pg. 134) Another observes that "Toybee carries on a prolonged theological discussion with... a Christian, who eventually draws from our author an admission that he is no longer a Christian." (Pg. 313)
This volume is an excellent work for anyone wanting to know more about Toynbee (and would even be an excellent introducton to him)." [from an Amazon reviewer]
RefTags
Released
1956
Location
Global
Setting