COLECCHI, Ottavio. — Philosopher, born at Pescocostanzo (L'Aquila) on 18 Oct. 1773, died at Naples on 25 Aug. 1847. Ordained priest in the Dominican Order, he later left it to go to Russia as tutor to the imperial court. On his return to Italy he opened a private school of philosophy in Naples, as was then customary among learned men not holding official chairs. In his teaching Colecchi strove to reconcile realism with Kantian criticism, opposing Galluppi, who was then professor at the University, though never naming him in his own writings.
Among Colecchi’s works notable for his thought are the Questioni filosofiche (3 vols., Naples 1843; vol. III published in 1857).
Bibl.: G. Sabatini, O. C. filosofo e matematico, nuove notizie e nuovi documenti, in Rassegna abruzzese, 1928; G. Gentile, Storia della filos. italiana dal Genovesi al Galluppi, II, Milano 1930, pp. 127-29.