PRISCO, GIUSEPPE. - Cardinal, b. at Boscotrecase (Naples) on 8 Sept. 1833, d. at Naples on 4 Feb. 1923. He studied at the Seminary of Naples, under the guidance of G. Sanseverino (v.). Ordained a priest (1856), he was called to the University of Naples, but because of the events of 1860 he left the chair, having refused to take the oath. He then opened a private school of philosophy, teaching at the same time at the archiepiscopal Seminary.
For the conspicuous part he had in seconding the directives of Leo XIII in the revival of Thomism, he was created cardinal by that same Pontiff, in the Consistory of 30 Nov. 1896, and called to Rome. Two years later he was appointed archbishop of Naples. In his new see he promoted various works of apostolate and culture, among them the founding of the Academy of Sacred Eloquence. Numerous publications remain from him, notable for vigor of thought and breadth of culture, which represent a valid contribution in the field of neo-Thomist philosophy. They should be remembered: Saggio di filosofia dato nel Liceo arcivescovile di Napoli (Naples 1855); S. Anselmo e l'ontologismo (ibid. 1857); S. Anselmo e il panteismo (ibid. 1860); Della decadenza delle scienze morali nei tempi presenti (ibid. 1864); La geometria e la morale (ibid. 1865); Metafisica della morale (ibid. 1865); Considerazioni storico-critiche sulla filosofia scolastica (ibid. 1866); Lo hegelianismo considerato nel suo svolgimento storico e nel suo rapporto con la scienza (ibid. 1868); Considerazioni generali sull'essere dello Stato (ibid. 1870); Principi di filosofia del diritto sulle basi dell'etica (ibid. 1872); Elementi di filosofia speculativa, 2 vols. (ibid. 1879); La metafisica di s. Tommaso d'Aquino considerata in sé e nella sua opposizione alla speculazione monistica (Rome 1887).
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Mario De Camillis