Living Thought: The Origins and Actuality of Italian PhilosophyThe work of contemporary Italian thinkers, what Roberto Esposito refers to as Italian Theory, is attracting increasing attention around the world. This book explores the reasons for its growing popularity, its distinguishing traits, and why people are turning to these authors for answers to real-world issues and problems. The approach he takes, in line with the keen historical consciousness of Italian thinkers themselves, is a historical one. He offers insights into the great "unphilosophical" philosophers of life—poets, painters, politicians and revolutionaries, film-makers and literary critics—who have made Italian thought, from its beginnings, an "impure" thought. People like Machiavelli, Croce, Gentile, and Gramsci were all compelled to fulfill important political roles in the societies of their times. No wonder they felt that the abstract vocabulary and concepts of pure philosophy were inadequate to express themselves. Similarly, artists such as Dante, Leonardo Da Vinci, Leopardi, or Pasolini all had to turn to other disciplines outside philosophy in order to discuss and grapple with the messy, constantly changing realities of their lives. For this very reason, says Esposito, because Italian thinkers have always been deeply engaged with the concrete reality of life (rather than closed up in the introspective pursuits of traditional continental philosophy) and because they have looked for the answers of today in the origins of their own historical roots, Italian theory is a "living thought." Hence the relevance or actuality that it holds for us today. Continuing in this tradition, the work of Roberto Esposito is distinguished by its interdisciplinary breadth. In this book, he passes effortlessly from literary criticism to art history, through political history and philosophy, in an expository style that welcomes non-philosophers to engage in the most pressing problems of our times. As in all his works, Esposito is inclusive rather than exclusive; in being so, he celebrates the affirmative potency of life. |
From inside the book
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... Bruno, and Campanella are located at the head of this process, orienting it in the direction ofits ascent, Galuppi, Gioberti, and Rosmini represent. 26. Bertrando Spaventa, “Della nazionalità nella filosofia,” in Opere, ed. Francesco ...
... Bruno, Campanella, Galileo, and Vico preceded it by a long time. Italian philosophy neither influenced nor was influenced by the formation of the national state. It came into being under conditions of political decentralization and ...
... Bruno, Campanella, and Galileo, moved about in a relationship with the political and Church authorities that was tense and always troubled, in some cases going so far as to take the form of resistance and sacrifice. Without wanting to ...
... Bruno to Leopardi, seeks in the wisdom of the ancients the keys to interpret what is closest at hand. Even Croce's principle that “past history is contemporary history” can be read along the lines of the actuality ofthe originary. The ...
... Bruno as well, for example, the universe is founded on and moved by the encounter and tension between opposites that life perpetually generates in a continuous circuit of conjunction and disjunction. What thus emerges is a constitutive ...
Contents
II The Power of the Origin | |
III PhilosophyLife | |
IV Thought in Action | |
V The Return of Italian Philosophy | |
Other editions - View all
Living Thought: The Origins and Actuality of Italian Philosophy Roberto Esposito No preview available - 2012 |
Living Thought: The Origins and Actuality of Italian Philosophy Roberto Esposito No preview available - 2012 |