This paper traces the attempts by the philosopher Robin George Collingwood to answer the question: How does one change the course of modern thought? The description of Collingwood's work is structured around three of the philosopher's books that represent a unified attempt to solve the problem. The three books cover a span of over 10 years and, while varied in their stated objectives, when taken as a whole represent one purpose. Collingwood's philosophy developed from his attempt to unify philosophy and history. He believed that a break with the prevailing methodologies in metaphysics was essential because the realist school of philosophy had created a false analogy between history and the natural sciences. Collingwood conceived of thought as historical in nature. For him metaphysics was the historical science that could unify all thinking. He believed the realists' dismissal of the historical dimension of mind had led to an improper understanding of the relationship between man and nature. Collingwood was convinced that the way to change the negative development of man's rational powers was through a proper understanding of historical thinking. The first work discussed is "Speculum Mentis," published in 1923, and intended to map the boundaries of human knowledge. The next work described is "An Essay of Philosophical Method." The ideas laid out in this book find their foundation in "Speculum Mentis" and lead to later work in the third book, "An Essay on Metaphysics." (DK)