FIORENTINO, FRANCESCO. – Philosopher, born in Sambiase (Catanzaro) on 1 May 1834, died in Naples on 22 December 1884. He completed his first studies in his native town, then at the Seminary of Nicestro (1848–51). He obtained a degree in law at Catanzaro, but did not practise as a lawyer. He taught philosophy at the secondary schools of Spoleto and Maddaloni, then at the Universities of Bologna, Naples, and Pisa, and finally once again in Naples, where he succeeded B. Spaventa.
Initially a Giobertian, his acquaintance with Spaventa converted him to Hegelianism, whose influence can be noted in the Saggio storico sulla filosofia greca (1864). In his final years his thought was attracted by neo-Kantianism with empiricist tendencies, as can be seen in the second edition of the Elementi di filosofia, which for many years was widely used in schools. Gentile reprinted (1907) the first edition, in which the Hegelian tendency predominates.
F.’s reputation rests principally on his historical works, among which the most important are: Pietro Pomponazzi (Florence 1868); Bernardino Telesio (5 vols., ibid. 1872–73); La filosofia contemporanea in Italia (Naples 1876); Scritti vari di letteratura, filosofia e critica (ibid. 1876); Manuale di storia della filosofia (3 vols., ibid. 1879–1881). He also published, with prefaces and notes, the first two volumes of G. Bruno’s Latin works (1879–84), and was (1875–84) editor of the Giornale napoletano di filosofia, lettere e scienze morali e politiche.