GIOSEPPE CHINAZZI. — Philosopher and political figure, b. at Oviglio in 1839, d. at Genoa in 1897. Initially, he served as an officer in the Piedmontese army and took part in the 1866 campaign; later abandoning military life, he devoted himself to philosophical studies after graduating in philosophy from the University of Turin in 1868. He educated the youth in the ideals of homeland and religion, first as a teacher in lower schools at Voghera, then as a professor of philosophy at the A. Doria lyceum in Genoa, and finally as a lecturer in moral philosophy at the university of the same city.
Chinazzi adhered to Rosmini, but his distinctive contribution lay in his attempt to integrate Rosmini’s conclusions with the results of later speculation, especially in the moral-social and pedagogical spheres, where he left his finest works: *Delle forze operative dell’animo umano* (Genoa 1881); *Delle armonie della scienza e della fede* (ibid. 1884); *Della influenza d’alcune condizioni fisiche sulla evoluzione psicologica dell’uomo* (ibid. 1888), etc. He also addressed historical questions in controversies that were then received with great favor, as well as literary criticism (on Manzoni, Foscolo, and Leopardi). His most notable work remains the translation of Porphyry’s *Letter to Marcella*, which he enriched with historical and philosophical notes, comparing Neoplatonic doctrine with Christian thought.
He actively participated in the Catholic movement of those early years of Italian unification, openly defending religious instruction at the pedagogical congresses of 1875 and 1883. From 1877 until his death, he was one of the most vigorous polemicists for the Genoese Catholic daily *Il Cittadino*.