FIORENTINO, FRANCESCO. - Philosopher, b. at Sambiase (Catanzaro) on 1 May 1834, d. at Naples on 22 Dec. 1884. He did his early studies in his native town, then at the Seminary of Nicastro (1848-51). He took his degree in law at Catanzaro, but did not practice as a lawyer. He taught philosophy at the lyceums of Spoleto and Maddaloni, then at the Universities of Bologna, Naples and Pisa, and finally again at Naples, where he succeeded B. Spaventa.

At first a follower of Gioberti, his acquaintance with Spaventa converted him to Hegelianism, whose influence is noticeable in the Saggio storico sulla filosofia greca (1864). In his last years his thought was drawn to neo-Kantianism with empiricist tendencies, as can be seen in the 2nd edition of the Elementi di filosofia, for many years widely circulated in the schools. Gentile reprinted (1907) the 1st edition, in which the Hegelian tendency prevails.

F.'s fame 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 the Latin works of G. Bruno (1879-84), and was (1875-84) editor of the Giornale napoletano di filosofia, lettere e scienze morali e politiche.

Bibliography11 works

BIBL.: A. C. De Meis, F. F., Bologna 1884; S. Ferrari, Bruno, F., Mamiani, Mantua 1887; G. Gentile, Le origini della filosofia contemporanea in Italia, III, part 1, Messina 1921, pp. 14-30; R. Montello, F. F., in Nuova rivista storica, 9 (1925), p. 161 ff.; M. Barillari, Il pensiero di F. F., Naples 1935; M. Galluppi, F. Acri e le sue relazioni con F. F. e suesi, A. Tagliaferri, in Saunders, 11 (1938); 12 (1939); 13 (1940); 14 (1941); G. Allincy, I pensatori della 2ª metà del sec. XIX, Milan 1942, p. 115 ff.; cf. also Ved. di F. F., Rizzardi operi e saggi critici, Florence 1935, edited by G. Gentile.

Andrea Ferris

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Fiorentino, Francesco

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