The hedgehog and the fox : an essay on Tolstoy's view of history
(Book)

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Published
Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2013].
Format
Book
Edition
Second Edition.
ISBN
9780691156002 (pbk. : alk. paper), 069115600X (pbk. : alk. paper)
Physical Desc
xvi, 122 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
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LocationCall NumberStatus
Blanchard Community Library - Adult Non-Fiction891.733 BERLINOn Shelf

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Published
Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2013].
Edition
Second Edition.
Language
English
ISBN
9780691156002 (pbk. : alk. paper), 069115600X (pbk. : alk. paper)

Notes

General Note
Previously published: London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1967.
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description
"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." This ancient Greek aphorism, preserved in a fragment from the poet Archilochus, describes the central thesis of Isaiah Berlin's masterly essay on Leo Tolstoy and the philosophy of history, the subject of the epilogue to War and Peace. Although there have been many interpretations of the adage, Berlin uses it to mark a fundamental distinction between human beings who are fascinated by the infinite variety of things and those who relate everything to a central, all-embracing system. Applied to Tolstoy, the saying illuminates a paradox that helps explain his philosophy of history: Tolstoy was a fox, but believed in being a hedgehog. One of Berlin's most celebrated works, this extraordinary essay offers profound insights about Tolstoy, historical understanding, and human psychology. This new edition features a revised text that supplants all previous versions, English translations of the many passages in foreign languages, a new foreword in which Berlin biographer Michael Ignatieff explains the enduring appeal of Berlin's essay, and a new appendix that provides rich context, including excerpts from reviews and Berlin's letters, as well as a startling new interpretation of Archilochus's epigram.

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Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Berlin, I., & Hardy, H. (2013). The hedgehog and the fox: an essay on Tolstoy's view of history (Second Edition.). Princeton University Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Berlin, Isaiah, 1909-1997 and Henry. Hardy. 2013. The Hedgehog and the Fox: An Essay On Tolstoy's View of History. Princeton University Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Berlin, Isaiah, 1909-1997 and Henry. Hardy. The Hedgehog and the Fox: An Essay On Tolstoy's View of History Princeton University Press, 2013.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Berlin, Isaiah, and Henry Hardy. The Hedgehog and the Fox: An Essay On Tolstoy's View of History Second Edition., Princeton University Press, 2013.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.