FRANCESCO FIORENTINO. — Philosopher, b. at Sambiase (Catanzaro) 19 May 1834, d. Naples 22 Dec. 1884. He pursued his early studies in his native town, then at the Seminary of Nastro (1848–51). He graduated in law at Catanzaro but did not practise as a lawyer. He taught philosophy in 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.
Initially influenced by Gioberti, acquaintance with Spaventa converted him to Hegelianism, whose influence is evident in his Saggio storico sulla filosofia greca (1864). In his later years his thought was drawn towards neo-Kantianism with empiricist tendencies, as seen in the second edition of Elementi di filosofia, which for many years was widely used in schools. Gentile reprinted (1907) the first edition, in which the Hegelian tendency is already foreshadowed.
F.’s fame rests chiefly on his historical works, among which the most important are: Pietro Pomponazzi (Florence 1868); Bernardino Telesio (2 vols., ibid. 1872–73); La filosofia contemporanea in Italia (Naples 1876); Scritti vari di letteratura, filosofia e critica (ibid. 1876); Mambriani di storia della filosofia (3 vols., ibid. 1879–81). He also published, with prefaces and notes, the first two volumes of the works of G. Bruno (1870–81), and was (1875–84) editor of the Giornale napoletano di filosofia, lettere e scienze morali e politiche.