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R.G. Collingwood (1889-1943) was a very influential philosopher and historian who taught at Oxford throughout his career. Just before the World War II broke out, Collingwood joined a group of Oxford students on a sailing voyage to the Greek islands. He was First Mate and Ship's Carpenter. This book is his diary of the voyage. "The First Mate's Log" is more than a travel book. Collingwood called the Fleur de Lys "a ship of philosophers", and his log describes the sometimes heated arguments on board. A debate about the nature of social utility, for example, was prompted by a visit to the monastery of the Prophet Elijah on the island of Santorini. It provides sharp focus to the question of what constitutes social worth - what is the value of the way of life of a pure mathematician, a religious community, a philosopher? How Collingwood shapes these discussions is as interesting to us as his contributions to them. On these occasions we are given insight into the ethical problems which Collingwood pursued in lectures and writings throughout his life.