CONTI, AUGUSTO. - Man of letters, historian, philosopher and politician, b. at S. Pietro alle Fonti, near S. Miniato al Tedesco, on 6 Dec. 1822, d. at Florence on 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 Florence. Elected an academician of the Crusca, he twice became its archconsul.
Despite the ready success that his works generally enjoyed, C.'s fame, both during his lifetime and after his death, was disputed. Yet a wholly unfavorable judgment on his merits in the field of philosophy would not be free from superficiality and partisanship. C. in fact has the indisputable merit of having reacted energetically against the currents of skepticism, rationalism and traditionalism then rampant in Italy. His philosophy is not eclectic but comprehensive; the criteria that guide it in the search for truth shun at the same time both aparticularism and dogmatism; they are real and objective, such as evidence, love and faith. For this reason it is not surprising if C.'s Storia della filosofia turned out to be an exaltation of traditional, Christian philosophy; yet it would be exaggerated to number him among the supporters of the Thomistic restoration promoted by Leo XIII.
As a man of letters, C. excels for a rich and eloquent prose. As a political writer, he favored and exalted the unity of Italy, but in full accord with the liberty of the Apostolic See. Although an open opponent of a Rome that was the seat of the universal papacy and of the Italian government, he hoped that the experiment would succeed.
Principal works, published in Florence: 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.
Bibliography4 works
Luigi Ciappi