Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie / Italien

The first comprehensive presentation of 18th-century Italian philosophy in the German language.

At the beginning of the volume, the institutional conditions of philosophy are addressed – journals and books, colleges, universities, and academies. In the first half of the century, the state, civil society, and history were the central themes of philosophical discussion. A dedicated chapter is devoted to Giambattista Vico, who, with his new method, is considered one of the founders of historicism and modern humanities and cultural sciences. Another focus is on the philosophical implications and methodological questions of the mathematical and natural sciences. The skeptical, materialistic, and church-critical tendencies of the Enlightenment prompted Catholic apologetics to develop various philosophical argumentative strategies – including attempts to reconcile Catholicism and modernity. In the second half of the century, Milan became the main center of the Italian Enlightenment – with Pietro Verri and especially Cesare Beccaria, who became known throughout Europe for his criticism of torture and the death penalty. Finally, the Southern Italian Enlightenment is presented, significantly shaped by Antonio Genovesi, who combined a philosophy rooted in theological-scholastic tradition with the newly emerging science of political economy.

Contents:

Introduction: Contours of the Philosophy of the Italian Settecento (Wolfgang Rother).

First Chapter: The Institutional Conditions of Philosophy (Calogero Farinella).

Second Chapter: Political Philosophy and History between 1700 and 1750 (Vittor Ivo Comparato).

Third Chapter: Naples and Vico (Manuela Sanna, Giuseppe Cacciatore, Maurizio Martirano).

Fourth Chapter: Philosophy and Natural Sciences (Paolo Casini).

Fifth Chapter: Religious Apologetics (Carlo Borghero).