CONTI, AUGUSTO. - Man of letters, historian, philosopher, and politician, b. at S. Pietro alle Fonti, near S. Miniato al Tedesco, 6 Dec. 1822; d. at Firenze, 5 March 1905. He was successively professor of theoretical philosophy, history of philosophy, and natural law at S. Miniato, at Lucca, at the University of Pisa, and at the Institute of Higher Studies in Firenze. Elected an academician of the Crusca, he twice became its arch-consul.
Despite the prompt success generally enjoyed by his works, C.’s reputation was disputed both during his lifetime and after his death. An entirely unfavourable judgment of his merits in the philosophical field, however, would not be free from superficiality and partisanship. C., indeed, has the unquestionable merit of having reacted vigorously against the currents of scepticism, rationalism, and traditionalism then prevailing in Italy. His philosophy is not eclectic but comprehensive; the criteria guiding it in the search for truth equally avoid partisan narrowness and dogmatism; they are real and objective, such as evidence, love, and faith. For this reason it is not surprising that C.’s Storia della filosofia became an exaltation of traditional Christian philosophy; it would, however, be an exaggeration to number him among the advocates of the Thomistic restoration promoted by Leone XIII.
As a man of letters, C. excels in a rich and eloquent prose. As a political writer, he favoured and exalted the unity of Italy, but in full agreement with the freedom of the Apostolic See. Although an open opponent of a Rome that would be the seat both of the universal papacy and of the Italian government, he hoped that the experiment might succeed.
Principal works, published in Firenze: Evidenza, amore e fede, 1858; Storia della filosofia, 1864; Il buono nel vero, 1873; Il vero nell'ordine, 1876; Il bello nel vero, 1877; L'armonia delle cose, 1878; I nuovi discorsi del tempo; La collana dei ricordi nazionali, 1891-92; Sveglie dell'anima, 1902.