PETRONE, ICINO. - Philosopher and jurist, b. at Limosano (Campobasso) on 21 Sept. 1870, d. at S. Giorgio a Cremano on 26 July 1913. From 1897 he taught philosophy of law at the University of Modena and, from 1900, moral philosophy at Naples.
P. was the first positivism (v.), sociologism, and historicism, and to restore the philosophy of law to metaphysical principles (La fase recentissima della filos. del diritto in Germania, Pisa 1895). In his major work, Il diritto nel mondo dello spirito (Milan 1910), the influence of Fichte and especially of Hegel is evident. His moral philosophy is more eclectic,
seeking to reconcile, through various influences (Rosmini, French indeterminism, etc.), objectivism (v.) subjectivism (v.). Significant in this respect are the writings: I limiti del determinismo scientifico (Modena 1910); Etica (posthumous, edited by G. Mancini, Palermo 1917); Ascetica (posthumous, ibid. 1918). The volume Problemi del mondo morale meditati da un idealista raccoglie saggi e discorsi. Lectures and essays were recently published, edited by G. Del Vecchio, Filos. del diritto e saggi di etica, diritto, sociologia, Milan 1950.