Zanotti, Francesco Maria

ZANOTTI, FRANCESCO MARIA. - Philosopher and man of letters, b. in Bologna on 6 Jan. 1692, d. there on 25 Dec. 1777.

From 1718 professor of philosophy at the university of his native city, he was among the first there to graft Cartesian and Newtonian doctrines onto the old Aristotelian trunk. Secretary from 1723 of the Institute of Sciences, of which he was later (1766) president, he wrote its commentaries in fine Latin. He worked and wrote, although always of frail health, until his late years. A keen and subtle intellect, he embodied the type of the eighteenth-century philosopher, understanding philosophy as an encyclopedia or sum of knowledge. In language and style he was a thoroughly Italian writer, neat and at the same time perspicuous, not always free from prolixity. His pupil Palcani collected his Opere (9 vols., Bologna 1779-1802). Of these the following are still cited: Della forza attrattiva delle idee (1747), an application of Newtonian attraction to ideas; three dialogues Della forza dei corpi che chiamano viva (1752); the Filosofia morale (1754), which is the finest compendium of Aristotelian ethics; Dell'arte poetica (1768), a treatise that does not stray beyond the bounds of Aristotelian poetics: the last two works were reprinted several times even in the 19th century.

Giulio Natali