Philosophy
Filosofia · 606 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects-
Essence (ESSENZA)
ESSENCE. - I. It indicates the nature of a thing as such and therefore of what is signified in its definition. If the "being" (v.) is the… -
Estimative Faculty (ESTIMATIVA)
ESTIMATIVE FACULTY. - It is the inner faculty by which the animal apprehends things useful or harmful to its life, and it corresponds to… -
Ethics (ETICA)
ETHICS. - From the Greek ἠθικός, moral, pertaining to conduct, to the character of man: it is the philosophical study of custom, of human… -
Eucken, Rudolf
EUCKEN, RUDOLF. - Philosopher, b. at Aurich on 5 Jan. 1846, d. at Jena on 6 Sept. 1926. He was professor of philosophy at Basel in 1871-74,… -
Eudemonism (EUDEMONISMO)
EUDEMONISM. - From the Greek εὐ-θαυσινός (εὐθαίμων, good genius, and hence "happy"), it is, in a generic sense, every moral system that… -
Evidence (EVIDENZA)
EVIDENCE. - From e-videre (Gk. ἐνέργεια) it is, in a general sense, the clarity and manifestation of the true. The etymological meaning of… -
Exemplarism (ESEMPLARISMO)
EXEMPLARISM. - Philosophical doctrine that attributes to an ideal world, existing in itself or in the divine mind, the function of… -
Existence (ESISTENZA)
EXISTENCE. - It is the act, the fact, or the reason by virtue of which one can say that something "is there," and it answers the question… -
Existentialism (ESISTENZIALISMO)
EXISTENTIALISM. - It represents the last and most energetic form of reaction against idealism, which took its programmatic name from the… -
Experience (ESPERIENZA)
EXPERIENCE. - From experior (I test, I attempt), it is, in a generic sense, every perception of contents and data of consciousness (v.),… -
Faculty (FACOLTÀ)
FACULTY. - The proximate and immediate principle of activity in a living being. It expresses the concepts of power, energy, force,… -
Fantasy (FANTASIA)
FANTASY. - It is in general the intermediary function between the immediate appearing of objects to the external senses and the reflected… -
Fardella, Michelangelo
FARDELLA, MICHELANGELO. - Philosopher, b. at Trapani in 1650, d. at Naples on 8 Jan. 1718. He was in Messina in contact with G. A. Borelli,… -
Farges, Albert
FARGES, ALBERT. - Neo-Scholastic Sulpician philosopher, b. in 1848 at Beaulieu, d. on 9 June 1926. He taught in the Seminaries of Bruges… -
Fatalism (FATALISMO)
FATALISM. - A philosophical or theological doctrine that holds every event, whether natural or human, to be the ineluctable effect of a… -
Fate (FATO)
FATE. - It is the lot, the destiny that hangs over something or someone according to a process of causes whose unfolding is necessary and… -
Fechner, Gustav Theodor
FECHNER, GUSTAV THEODOR. - German philosopher, b. at Gross-Särchen (Lower Lusatia) on 19 Apr. 1801, d. after a long university career at… -
Feldmann, Joseph
FELDMANN, JOSEPH. - German philosopher, priest, b. at Olpe (Meschede) on 23 Feb. 1878, d. at Paderborn on 29 July 1927. He earned his… -
Ferguson, Adam
FERGUSON, ADAM. - Scottish moralist, sociologist and historian, b. at Logiereit in 1724, from 1764 > FERENTINO, DIOCESE of - Panorama of F.… -
Ferrari, Giuseppe
FERRARI, GIUSEPPE. - Philosopher and politician, b. in Milan on 7 March 1811, d. in Rome on 1 July 1876. A disciple of Romagnosi, in 1838… -
Ferri, Luigi
FERRI, LUIGI. - Philosopher, b. in Bologna on 15 June 1826, d. in Rome on 19 March 1895. He completed his early studies in his native city,… -
Feuerbach, Ludwig Andreas
FEUERBACH, LUDWIG ANDREAS. - German philosopher, b. at Landshut on 28 July 1804, son of the celebrated jurist Anselm, d. at Rechenberg… -
Fichte, Immanuel Hermann
FICHTE, IMMANUEL HERMANN. - Thinker, b. in Jena on 18 July 1796, d. in Stuttgart on 8 Aug. 1879, son of Johann Gottlieb (v.), whose works… -
Finality, Finalism (FINALITÀ, FINALISMO)
FINALITY, FINALISM. - By f. is meant the correspondence that a natural process or any human fact has with a certain result toward which the… -
Finality In Human Activity (FINALITÀ NELL'ATTIVITÀ UMANA)
FINALITY IN HUMAN ACTIVITY. - Finality is one of the most universal characteristics of reality and therefore is also one of the most… -
Finite (FINITO)
FINITE. - That which has an end, that is, a "limit" in any order. There is a finite number when it results from the repeated addition of… -
Fiorentino, Francesco
FIORENTINO, FRANCESCO. - Philosopher, b. at Sambiase (Catanzaro) on 1 May 1834, d. at Naples on 22 Dec. 1884. He did his early studies in… -
Fischer, Engelbert Lorentz
FISCHER, ENGELBERT LORENTZ. - German philosopher, priest, b. at Aschaffenburg on 12 Oct. 1845, d. as parish priest at Würzburg on 17 Jan.… -
Form (FORMA)
FORM. - In its ordinary meaning it is the outward disposition of the parts of a body (μορφή), a quality of sensible substances, especially… -
Fornari, Vito
FORNARI, VITO. - Philosopher and man of letters, b. at Molfetta on 10 March 1821, d. at Naples on 6 March 1900. A solitary and meditative… -
Forster, Frobenius
FORSTER, FROBENIUS. - Benedictine, born at Königfeld on 30 August 1709, died at Regensburg on 11 October 1791. He entered the monastery of… -
Fortunato, Ferrari da Brescia
FORTUNATO, FERRARI DA BRESCIA. - Franciscan philosopher and mathematician, b. at Brescia on 1 December 1701, d. at Madrid on 11 May 1734.… -
Fouillée, Alfred
FOUILLÉE, ALFRED. - Philosopher, b. at La Poueze (Maine-et-Loire) in 1838, d. at Lyon in 1912. After the publication of the Philosophie de… -
Freedom (LIBERTÀ)
FREEDOM. - In general it is the independence that man claims for his actions, whether in relation to the forces of nature (rational liberty… -
Free Thinkers (LIBERI PENSATORI)
FREE THINKERS. - This name designates all those who, rejecting any revelation or dogmatic definition of religious or moral truths, claim… -
Fries, Jakob Friedrich (FRIES, JACOB FRIEDRICH)
FRIES, JAKOB FRIEDRICH. - Philosopher, b. at Barby (Saxony) on 23 Aug. 1773, d. at Jena on 10 Aug. 1843. He was educated in the schools of… -
Fröhsammer, Jakob (FROHSCHAMMER, JACOB)
FRÖHSAMMER, JAKOB. - Philosopher b. 6 Jan. 1821 at Illkoven (Ratisbon), d. 14 Apr. 1893 at Bad Kreut. Ordained priest in 1847, he taught,… -
Galluppi, Pasquale
GALLUPPI, PASQUALE - Philosophy, born at Tropea, in Calabria, to Baron Vincenzo on 2 April 1770, died at Naples on 13 December 1846. He… -
Gassendi, Pierre
GASSENDI, PIERRE. - French philosopher, b. 22 Jan. 1592 at Champtercier (Digne), d. in Paris on 24 Oct. 1655. A canon and preacher, he… -
Genovesi, Antonio
GENOVESI, ANTONIO. - Philosopher and economist, b. at Castiglione (Salerno) on 1 Nov. 1712, d. at Naples on 23 Sept. 1769. Having entered… -
Gentile, Giovanni
GENTILE, GIOVANNI. - Philosopher, educationist and politician, b. at Castelvetrano (Trapani) on 30 May 1875, d. assassinated at Florence on… -
Gerard of Cremona (GERARDO DA CREMONA)
GERARD OF CREMONA. - Medieval translator, b. at Cremona in 1114, d. in 1187. He translated scientific and philosophical works from Arabic… -
Gerdil, Hyacinthe-Sigismond
GERDIL, HYACINTHE-SIGISMOND. - Cardinal, philosopher, educationalist and theologian, b. at Samoëns (Savoy) on 23 June 1718, d. in Rome on… -
Geyser, Joseph
GEYSER, JOSEPH. - German Neo-Scholastic philosopher, b. 16 March 1869 at Erkelenz (Rhineland), d. 11 April 1948 at Siegsdorf. He obtained… -
Giles of Lessines (EGIDIO DI LESSINES)
GILES OF LESSINES. - Dominican master and one of the first supporters of St. Thomas, b. at Lessines (Belgium) around 1230; d. around 1304.… -
Gioia, Melchiorre
GIOIA, MELCHIORRE. - Politician and writer, b. at Piacenza on 20 Sept. 1767, d. at Milan on 2 Jan. 1829. In 1784 he entered the Collegio… -
Goffredo of Fontaines (GOFFREDO DI FONTAINES)
GOFFREDO OF FONTAINES. - Secular master of the University of Paris from 1283 to 1296, d. after 1303. He is the author of fifteen Quodlibeta… -
Good (BENE)
GOOD. - The good is the "perfection" of being: it therefore indicates the being that has reached its completion (ontological sense), and it… -
Gratry, Alphonse
GRATRY, ALPHONSE. - Philosopher, b. at Lille on 30 March 1805, d. at Montreux on 7 Feb. 1872. After completing his secondary studies he… -
Gredt, Joseph August
GREDT, JOSEPH AUGUST. - Benedictine philosopher, b. in Luxembourg on 30 July 1863, d. in Rome on 29 Jan. 1940. Already a priest, he was a… -
Green, Thomas Hill
GREEN, THOMAS HILL. - English philosopher, b. at Birkin (Yorkshire) on 7 Apr. 1836, d. at Oxford on 26 March 1882. From 1878 until his… -
Gualtiero of Bruges (GUALTIERO DI BRUGES)
GUALTIERO OF BRUGES. - Franciscan, b. in 1225, d. in 1307. He was provincial of France and bishop of Poitiers (1279-1306). He taught in… -
Guastella, Cosmo
GUASTELLA, COSMO. - Philosopher, b. at Misilmeri (Palermo) on 28 Jan. 1854, d. at Palermo on 11 Sept. 1922. He devoted himself to… -
Guido Terreni
GUIDO TERRENI. - Theologian and canonist, b. at Perpignan at the end of the 13th century (1260?), d. at Avignon on 21 Aug. 1342. He held… -
Gutberlet, Konstantin
GUTBERLET, KONSTANTIN. - Theologian and philosopher, b. at Geismar on 10 Jan. 1837, d. at Fulda on 27 Apr. 1928. He completed his studies… -
Habit, Habitude (ABITO, ABITUDINE)
HABIT, HABITUDE. - A stable quality by which an agent, indifferent to acting according to different orientations, acquires facility and… -
Hamann, Johann Georg
HAMANN, JOHANN GEORG. - Philosopher, b. at Königsberg on 27 Aug. 1730, d. at Münster on 21 June 1788. After a disorderly youthful life, the… -
Hamelin, Octave
HAMELIN, OCTAVE. - Philosopher, b. at Lion d'Angers (Maine-et-Loire), on 22 July 1856, d. at Hucker (Landes) on 8 Sept. 1907 in a generous… -
Hamilton, William
HAMILTON, WILLIAM. - Philosopher, b. in Glasgow on 8 March 1788, d. in Edinburgh on 6 May 1856. After studying in his native city and at… -
Hartley, David
HARTLEY, DAVID. - Philosopher, b. at Armley (Yorkshire) on 30 Aug. 1705, d. at Bath on 28 Aug. 1757. A notable exponent of the materialist… -
Hartmann, Eduard von
HARTMANN, EDUARD von. - Philosopher, b. in Berlin on 23 Feb. 1842, d. on 5 June 1906 in the suburb of Gross-Lichterfelde, where he lived in… -
Hedonism (EDONISMO)
HEDONISM. - From the Greek ἡδονή, pleasure, enjoyment, it is, in a generic sense, every doctrine that posits pleasure, however understood,… -
Hegel, Georg Friedrich Wilhelm
HEGEL, GEORG FRIEDRICH WILHELM. - He is the principal representative of modern idealism: b. in Stuttgart on 24 Aug. 1770, d. in Berlin on… -
Heraclitus of Ephesus (ERACLITO DI EFESO)
HERACLITUS OF EPHESUS. - Greek philosopher who lived approximately between 540 and 475 B.C. Of noble lineage, he displayed throughout his… -
Hermetic Writings (ERMETICI, LIBRI)
HERMETIC WRITINGS. - These writings, which are probably either summaries of readings or of conversations held in restricted philosophical… -
Hertling, Georg Friedrich von
HERTLING, Georg Friedrich von. - Philosopher and politician, b. 31 Aug. 1843 in Darmstadt, d. 4 Jan. 1919 in Ruhpolding (western Bavaria).… -
Heteronomy (ETERONOMIA)
HETERONOMY. - In ethics, heteronomy (ἔτερος = other; νόμος = law) is opposed to autonomy (v.), and denotes the character of every moral… -
History, Philosophy Of (STORIA, FILOSOFIA DELLA)
HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY OF. - It is the comprehension of the course of human events in the complex development of civilization. CONTENTS: I.… -
Hobbes, Thomas
HOBBES, THOMAS. - Philosopher, b. at Malmesbury on 5 Apr. 1588, d. at Hardwicke on 4 Dec. 1679. He studied at Oxford; then, still young, he… -
Holbach, Paul Heinrich Dietrich, Baron of (HOLBACH, PAUL HEINRICH DIETRICH, BARONE DI)
HOLBACH, Paul Heinrich Dietrich, Baron of. - Philosopher, b. at Heidelsheim (Palatinate) in 1723, d. at Paris, where he had settled since… -
Holkot, Roberto
HOLKOT, ROBERTO. - Dominican philosopher and theologian, born probably at Northampton on an unknown date, d. 1349. He taught as doctor… -
Huber, Johann Nepomuk (HUBER, JOHANN NĚPOMUK)
HUBER, JOHANN NEPOMUK. - Catholic theologian and philosopher, b. in Munich on 18 Aug. 1830, d. there on 20 March 1879. From 1859 he was… -
Hügel, Friedrich von
HÜGEL, FRIEDRICH von. - Religious writer, b. in Florence on 5 May 1852 to an Austrian father and a Scottish mother, d. in London on 27 Jan.… -
Hume, David
HUME, DAVID. - Philosopher, b. 26 Apr. 1711 at Ninewells (southern Scotland), d. at Edinburgh 25 Aug. 1776. He studied at the University of… -
Humour (Sentimental Tone, Mood) (UMORE (*TONO SENTIMENTALE, STATO D'ANIMO*))
HUMOUR (Sentimental Tone, Mood). - A particular equilibrium of the sphere of the deepest feelings (v.) and of the affective state of… -
Hurtado, Pedro de Mendoza
HURTADO, PEDRO de MENDOZA. - Theologian and philosopher of the Society of Jesus, b. in 1578 at Valmaseda, d. on 16 Nov. 1615 at Madrid. He… -
Husserl, Edmund
HUSSERL, EDMUND. - Philosopher and psychologist, b. at Prossnitz (Moravia), 8 April 1859, d. at Freiburg im Breisgau, 26 April 1938. He… -
Hutcheson, Francis
HUTCHESON, FRANCIS. - English philosopher, b. at Drumalig (Ireland) on 8 Aug. 1694, d. at Glasgow in 1747. From 1729 he was professor of… -
Huxley, Thomas Henry
HUXLEY, THOMAS HENRY. - Naturalist and philosopher, b. 4 May 1825 at Ealing, d. 29 June 1895 at Eastbourne. He did not have a regular… -
Hylemorphism (ILEMORFISMO)
HYLEMORPHISM. - From ὅλη (matter) and μορφή (form), it indicates the philosophical theory, due to Plato and Aristotle, which holds that… -
Hylozoism (ILOZOISMO)
HYLOZOISM. - From ὕλη, matter, and ζωή, life, it is the theory that recognizes in matter as such a form of life. In the ancients, hylozoism… -
Hypothesis (IPOTESI)
HYPOTHESIS. - A logical term indicating a proposition laid down as the foundation of a reasoning in the search for the explanation of a… -
I (IO)
I. - In the most comprehensive and most current sense, it designates in the human individual the character of "wholly autonomous," the… -
Idea
IDEA. - The term, of Greek origin (ἰδία and εἶδος, from ἰδεῖν, to see), indicates, in its primitive reference, figure, visible aspect,… -
Idealism (IDEALISMO)
IDEALISM. - In general it is the doctrine that makes reality depend on thought. SUMMARY: I. Overall concept and division. - II. Historical… -
Identity (IDENTITÀ)
IDENTITY. - It indicates the reflected unity of being in the variety of its forms and in the multiplicity of its elements, and it can be… -
Ideology (IDEOLOGIA)
IDEOLOGY. - Etymologically (from ἰδέα and λόγος) it is the science of ideas. The term was used for the first time by Destutt de Tracy:… -
Ignorance (IGNORANZA)
IGNORANCE. - In its broadest sense, it is the privation of knowledge or of science in a subject capable of having it. If the subject is… -
Imagination (IMMAGINAZIONE)
IMAGINATION. - It is usually taken as a synonym for fantasy (v.). In medieval Aristotelianism Avicenna distinguished them, assigning to the… -
Immanence (IMMANENZA)
IMMANENCE. - It is said of that which in its operation does not go out from itself or outside itself, but remains within itself. SUMMARY:… -
Immanentism (IMMANENTISMO)
IMMANENTISM. - A neologism that has been very successful in modern and contemporary thought, both in philosophical discussions with the… -
Impression (IMPRESSIONE)
IMPRESSION. - The term acquires a technical meaning in those theories of knowledge that study the relationship between the external world… -
Inclination (INCLINAZIONE)
INCLINATION. - I. IN PHILOSOPHY. - It is the orientation or disposition of an agent with respect to the object that is the goal or else the… -
Indefinite (INDEFINITO)
INDEFINITE. - Besides having the meaning of indeterminate (v. INFINITE), i. denotes a limited magnitude that can grow without end. I.… -
Individual (INDIVIDUO)
INDIVIDUAL. - I. PHILOSOPHY. - Commonly the term i. is used to signify concrete reality, that is, reality essentially determined in itself… -
Individualism (INDIVIDUALISMO)
INDIVIDUALISM. - It is, in general, every system, tendency or orientation that considers the individual (v.) as the most authentic and… -
Individuation, Principle of (INDIVIDUAZIONE, PRINCIPIO DI)
INDIVIDUATION, PRINCIPLE OF. - The beings existing in the world, although presenting an essential commonality in their specific nature, are… -
Indole (from Ἰνδάλλωμαι = "I appear", "I show myself") (INDOLE (DA ἸΝΔΆΛΛΩΜΑ = « APPARISCO », « MI MOSTRO »))
INDOLE (from Ἰνδάλλωμαι = "I appear", "I show myself"). - It is meant to indicate the natural disposition, the particular… -
Induction (INDUZIONE)
INDUCTION. - In current language (apart from the technical meaning in physical science, e.g., magnetic i.) it means "conjecture,"… -
Infinite (INFINITO)
INFINITE. — That which has no end or limit. If that whose limit is denied is something negative and imperfect, there is a negative i.,… -
Instinct (ISTINTO)
INSTINCT. - It is a tendency, an inner impulse, that determines and directs a complex of external, spontaneous and coordinated acts, by… -
Instrumentalism (STRUMENTALISMO)
INSTRUMENTALISM. - This term defines the form of pragmatism (v.) peculiar to the North American philosopher J. Dewey (b. at Burlington on… -
Intellect (INTELLETTO)
INTELLECT. - It is the principle of thought of human consciousness that distinguishes man from the lower forms of life. The first… -
Intellectualism (INTELLETTUALISMO)
INTELLECTUALISM. - In a generic sense, any conception of truth that admits the superiority of the intellect over the sensitive faculties… -
Intentionality (INTENZIONALITÀ)
INTENTIONALITY. - A philosophical term derived from intention, and today used predominantly to designate the order of knowability in its… -
Introspection (INTROSPEZIONE)
INTROSPECTION. - It is the method of analyzing the appearing and the content of psychic processes by means of self-observation, which is… -
Intuition (INTUIZIONE)
INTUITION. - From the Latin intueri (Gk. εἰσπρέω), to see, to look within, to contemplate, it indicates, etymologically, vision, a look,… -
Intuitionism (INTUIZIONISMO)
INTUITIONISM. — A philosophical term whose meaning cannot always be precisely defined, sometimes replaced by the other term intuitionalism.… -
Irrationalism (IRRAZIONALISMO)
IRRATIONALISM. - A term whose meaning is not easily pinned down, given the many senses it has taken on in the history of philosophy and… -
Isaac ben Solomon Israeli (ISACCO BEN SALOMON ISRAELI)
ISAAC BEN SOLOMON ISRAELI. - Jewish philosopher, b. in Egypt ca. 865, d. at Tunis ca. 955. He practiced medicine at the court of the… -
Jacobi, Friedrich Heinrich
JACOBI, FRIEDRICH HEINRICH. - Philosopher, b. in Düsseldorf on 25 January 1743, d. in Munich on 10 March 1819. He cultivated literary and… -
James, William
JAMES, WILLIAM. - Philosopher, psychologist and educationist, b. in New York on 11 Jan. 1842, d. at Chocorua (New Hampshire) on 26 Aug.… -
Janet, Paul-Alexandre-René
JANET, PAUL-ALEXANDRE-RENÉ. - Philosopher, b. in Paris on 30 Apr. 1823, d. there on 4 Oct. 1899. He was first a student at the École… -
Jodl, Friedrich
JODL, FRIEDRICH. - Positivist philosopher, b. 23 Aug. 1849 in Munich, d. 26 Jan. 1914 in Vienna. He taught in Prague and Vienna. He… -
Joseph the Philosopher (GIUSEPPE IL FILOSOFO)
JOSEPH THE PHILOSOPHER. - Byzantine monk, b. at Ithaca ca. 1280, d. at Thessalonica ca. 1330. He studied Greek philosophy in that city.… -
Jouffroy, Théodore
JOUFFROY, THÉODORE. - French philosopher, b. at Pontets (Doubs) on 7 July 1796, d. at Paris on 1 March 1842. He first studied under the… -
Judgment (GIUDIZIO)
JUDGMENT. - Judgment (Gr. ἀπόφασις, κατάφασις, Lat. iudicium, propositio, enunciatio, sententia) is the act by which thought affirms (or… -
Kant, Immanuel
KANT, IMMANUEL. - Philosopher, b. at Königsberg, capital of East Prussia, on 22 April 1724, d. there on 12 February 1804. He is unanimously… -
Kilwardby, Robert
KILWARDBY, ROBERT. - English Dominican, b. in the county of Leicester ca. 1200, d. at Viterbo on 11 Sept. 1279. He entered the Order… -
Klimke, Friedrich
KLIMKE, FRIEDRICH. - Jesuit, philosopher, b. June 18, 1878 at Golinov, in Upper Silesia, d. in Rome on Jan. 9, 1924. He taught history of… -
Knowledge (CONOSCENZA)
KNOWLEDGE. - From the Latin cognoscere (cumnoscere, Greek γινώσκειν and γινώσκειν) it is the act by which a being (subject) becomes aware… -
Külpe, Oswald
KÜLPE, OSWALD. - Psychologist and philosopher, b. at Candau on 3 Aug. 1862, d. at Munich on 30 Dec. 1915. After having been an assistant to… -
Labanca, Baldassarre
LABANCA, BALDASSARRE. - Philosopher and historian of religions, b. at Avignon on 17 Aug. 1829, d. at Rome on 23 Jan. 1913. He first taught… -
Laberthonnière, Lucien
LABERTHONNIÈRE, LUCIEN. - Oratorian, writer on the philosophy of religion, b. at Chazalet (Indre) on 5 Oct. 1860, d. in Paris on 6 Oct.… -
Lachelier, Jules
LACHELIER, JULES. - Philosopher, b. 27 May 1832 at Fontainebleau, d. there 18 Jan. 1918. Professor at the Lycée of Caen (1864), he… -
La Forge, Louis de
LA FORGE, LOUIS de. - Physician and philosopher, b. in Paris at the beginning of the seventeenth century. He practiced medicine at Saumur.… -
Lambert of Saint-Bertin (LAMBERTO DI SAINT-BERTIN)
LAMBERT OF SAINT-BERTIN. - Benedictine, b. around 1061, d. June 22, 1125 at St-Bertin. He entered (1070-72) the monastery of St-Bertin,… -
La Mettrie, Julien-Offroy de
LA METTRIE, JULIEN-OFFROY de. - Physician and philosopher, b. at St-Malo on 25 Dec. 1709, d. at Berlin on 11 Nov. 1751. He was a military… -
Lange, Friedrich Albert
LANGE, FRIEDRICH ALBERT. - German philosopher, b. at Wald near Solingen on 29 Sept. 1828, d. at Marburg on 21 Dec. 1875. After having… -
Language (LINGUAGGIO)
LANGUAGE. - In its proper and common meaning, language is spoken speech, the means of expression and communication of thought in man. In a… -
Laromiguière, Pierre
LAROMIGUIÈRE, PIERRE. - Philosopher, b. at Livignac (Aveyron) on 3 Nov. 1756, d. at Paris on 12 Aug. 1837. He was ordained a priest in… -
Lasauix, Peter Ernst von (LASAULX, PETER ERNST VON)
LASAUIX, Peter Ernst von. - Thinker and politician, b. March 16, 1805 at Koblenz, d. May 9, 1861 at Munich. He studied classical philology… -
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm
LEIBNIZ, GOTTFRIED WILHELM. - Born in Leipzig on 21 June 1646, died in Hanover on 14 Nov. 1716: philosopher, mathematician, scholar; one of… -
Leonicus Thomaeus, Nicolaus (LEONICO TOMEO, NICCOLÒ)
LEONICUS THOMAEUS, NICOLAUS. - Humanist, son of a Greek from Epirus, b. in Venice on 1 February 1456, d. there on 28 March 1531. He studied… -
Lepidi, Alberto
LEPIDI, ALBERTO. - Dominican philosopher and theologian, b. at Popoli (Abruzzo) in 1838, d. at Rome (phot. Gab. fot. nas.) LEPANTO. -… -
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim
LESSING, GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM. - German thinker, critic, poet and playwright, b. at Kamenz on 22 Jan. 1729, d. at Wolfenbüttel on 15 Feb. 1781.… -
Lévy-Bruhl, Lucien (LĚVY-BRUHL, LUCIEN)
LÉVY-BRUHL, LUCIEN. - Philosopher and sociologist, b. in Paris on 10 April 1857, d. there on 13 March 1939. Professor at the Sorbonne,… -
Liberal Arts (ARTI LIBERALI)
LIBERAL ARTS. - Under the name of l. a. go the literary and scientific disciplines which constituted, during the Middle Ages, the… -
Liberatore, Matteo
LIBERATORE, MATTEO. - Philosopher and theologian (Int. Enc. Cult.) LIBER CENSUUM ROMANAE ECCLESIAE - Beginning of the original manuscript… -
Life (VITA)
LIFE. - I. PHILOSOPHY. - 1. Notions. In contemporary philosophical language, "life" indicates, in the strict sense, "a set of phenomena… -
Limit (LIMITE)
LIMIT. - The limit (Greek πέρας, Latin terminus, German Grenze) is defined by Aristotle as "the extreme point of a thing: that first point,… -
Littré, Maximilien-Paul-Émile
LITTRÉ, MAXIMILIEN-PAUL-ÉMILE. - Writer on science and philosopher, b. in Paris on 1 February 1801, d. there on 2 June 1881. He studied… -
Locke, John
LOCKE, JOHN. - Philosopher, b. 29 Aug. 1632 at Wrington (Bristol) of a Puritan family, d. 28 Oct. 1704 at Oates (Essex). He did his studies… -
Logic (LOGICA)
LOGIC. - It is the science of the structure and processes of thought in relation to their functional validity. SUMMARY: I. Terminology. -… -
Lotze, Rudolf Hermann
LOTZE, RUDOLF HERMANN. - Philosopher, b. 23 May 1817 at Bautzen, d. 1 July 1881 at Berlin. He studied medicine and philosophy at the… -
Lucretius, Titus Carus (LUCREZIO, TITO CARO)
LUCRETIUS, TITUS CARUS. - Roman poet and philosopher, b. between 99 and 95, d. between 55 and 51 B.C. About his life the information is… -
Mach, Ernst
MACH, ERNST. - German physicist and philosopher, b. at Tufany (Moravia) on 18 Feb. 1838, d. at Haar (Munich) on 19 Feb. 1916. He taught… -
Mackintosh, James
MACKINTOSH, JAMES. - English politician and thinker, b. at Aldourie (Scotland) on 24 Sept. 1765, d. in London on 3 May 1832. A spiritual… -
Mager, Alois
MAGER, ALOIS. - Benedictine, philosopher and psychologist, b. at Zimmern near Rottweil (Swabia) on 21 Aug. 1883, d. at Salzburg on 26 Dec.… -
Maier, Heinrich
MAIER, HEINRICH. - Philosopher, b. at Heidenheim (Württemberg) on 5 Feb. 1867, d. at Berlin on 28 Nov. 1933. Having earned his doctorate in… -
Maignan, Emmanuel
MAIGNAN, EMMANUEL. - Scientist, philosopher and theologian, b. at Toulouse on 17 July 1601, d. there on 29 Oct. 1676. Having entered the… -
Maimon, Salomon
MAIMON, SALOMON. - Philosopher, b. at Neschwitz (Lithuania) in 1754, d. at Nieder-Siegersdorf (Liegnitz, southern Silesia) on 22 Nov. 1800.… -
Maine de Biran, François-Pierre
MAINE DE BIRAN, FRANÇOIS-PIERRE. - Philosopher and politician, b. at Bergerac on 29 Nov. 1776, d. at Paris on 22 July 1824. A nobleman,… -
Male
MALE. - It is whatever is opposed to the good (v.) and to the perfection of something: "Hoe est esse mali quod est privatio boni" (Sum.… -
Mamiani, Terenzio della Rovere
MAMIANI, TERENZIO della ROVERE. - Politician and writer, b. at Pesaro on 27 Sept. 1799, d. at Rome on 21 June 1885. He took an active part… -
Mandonnet, Pierre
MANDONNET, PIERRE. - Historian of the Church and of medieval theology, b. at Beaumont (Puy-de-Dôme) on 26 Feb. 1858, d. at Saulchoir on 4… -
Mansel, Henry Longeville
MANSEL, HENRY LONGEVILLE. - English theologian and philosopher, b. at Casgrove (Northamptonshire) on 6 Oct. 1820, d. at Oxford on 31 July… -
Marburg School (MARBURGO, SCUOLA DI)
MARBURG SCHOOL. - It is one of the two principal directions of German neo-Kantianism; its founder was Hermann Cohen (v.; 1842-1918); and… -
Marcus Aurelius (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus), Roman Emperor (MARCO AURELIO (MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS), IMPERATORE ROMANO)
MARCUS AURELIUS (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus), Roman Emperor. - Emperor and philosopher, b. in Rome on 26 March 121, d. at Vindobona on 17… -
Maréchal, Joseph
MARÉCHAL, JOSEPH. - Philosopher, b. at Charleroi in Belgium on 1 July 1878, d. at Louvain on 11 Dec. 1944. He entered the Society of Jesus… -
Mariano, Raffaele
MARIANO, RAFFAELE. - Writer of philosophy and history of religions, b. at Capua on 5 Sept. 1840, d. at Florence on 1 Dec. 1912. He taught… -
Marsilius of Padua (MARSILIO DA PADOVA)
MARSILIUS OF PADUA. - Political writer, b. in Padua in 1275-80 to Bonmatteo dei Mainardini, notary of the University, d. in 1342-43 at the… -
Martinetti, Piero
MARTINETTI, PIERO. - Philosopher, b. at Pont (Aosta) on 21 Aug. 1872, d. there on 22 March 1943. He was professor of philosophy at the… -
Masci, Filippo
MASCI, FILIPPO. - Philosopher, b. at Francavilla al Mare on 29 Sept. 1844, d. at Naples on 7 Dec. 1922. He taught philosophy at the… -
Masdeu, Baltasar
MASDEU, BALTASAR. - Jesuit, Neo-Scholastic philosopher, b. in Palermo on 7 May 1741, d. in Palma de Mallorca on 31 Dec. 1820. After a… -
Materialism (MATERIALISMO)
MATERIALISM. - A philosophical (scientific, historical) system that deduces the form of things and events from their matter, considering… -
Matthew of Gubbio (MATTEO DA GUBBIO)
MATTHEW OF GUBBIO. - Master of logic and philosophy, of Averroistic tendency, first presumably at Perugia, then (1337-47) at Bologna. Some… -
Mattiussi, Guido
MATTIUSSI, GUIDO. - Jesuit philosopher and theologian, b. at Vergnacco (Udine) on 14 Apr. 1852, d. at Gorizia on 12 March 1925. Having… -
Mauro, Silvester (MAURO, SILVESTRO)
MAURO, SILVESTER. - Philosopher and theologian, b. at Spoleto on 31 Dec. 1619, d. at Rome on 13 Jan. 1687. Having entered the Society of… -
Mechanicism (MECCANICISMO)
MECHANICISM. - A philosophical theory, or more generally a current of thought, that interprets the world as a great machine, and seeks the… -
Mendelssohn, Moses
MENDELSSOHN, MOSES. - Philosopher, b. in Dessau on 6 Sept. 1729, d. in Berlin on 4 Jan. 1786. Already initiated, in Dessau, into the works… -
Mercier, Désiré
MERCIER, DÉSIRÉ. - Philosopher, founder of the Institute of Philosophy of the University of Louvain, cardinal and primate of Belgium, b. at… -
Metaphysics (METAFISICA)
METAPHYSICS. - It is the ultimate philosophical consideration of the meaning, the principles and the structure of reality. Therefore all… -
Methodology (METODOLOGIA)
METHODOLOGY. - The word method (μέθοδος, from μετὰ, through, and ὁδός, way), sometimes used by the ancients in the sense of "inquiry,"… -
Michalski, Konstanty (MICHALSKY, KONSTANTY)
MICHALSKI, KONSTANTY. - Priest of the Polish Mission, distinguished scholar of medieval philosophy, b. 12 April 1879 at Mala Dabrowka… -
Microcosm and Macrocosm (MICROCOSMO E MACROCOSMO)
MICROCOSM AND MACROCOSM. - The term microcosm, from the Greek μικρός "small" and κόσμος "world," was used for the first time by Democritus… -
Mill, James
MILL, JAMES. - Historian and philosopher, b. at Northwater Bridge (southern Scotland) on 6 April 1773, d. in London on 26 June 1836. He… -
Mimesis (MIMESI)
MIMESIS. - From μίμησις, it means imitation. It is a concept on which, probably already in the most ancient historical cultures, the… -
Monad (MONADE)
MONAD. - The term, from the Greek μονάς ("unity"), was already used by Pythagoras and his disciples who, with the theory of number as the… -
Monism (MONISMO)
MONISM. - From μόνος, single, it is, in the proper sense, every system that regards the multiplicity of things as apparent, resolving it… -
Morando, Giuseppe
MORANDO, GIUSEPPE. - Philosopher, b. in Genoa on 28 Jan. 1866, d. in Voghera on 4 May 1914. He was a lecturer at the Universities of Padua… -
Motion (MOTO)
MOTION. - Motion in general, or change, is the passage from one mode of being to another: in this sense everything moves, except God, pure… -
Nativism (INNATISMO)
NATIVISM. - A term from philosophical language, used to indicate any system or tendency that admits the original (congenital, innate)… -
Natorp, Paul
NATORP, PAUL. - Philosopher, b. in Düsseldorf on 24 Jan. 1854, d. in Marburg on 17 Aug. 1924, professor of philosophy at that University… -
Nature (NATURA)
NATURE. - It is the intrinsic principle of the becoming of corporeal beings, especially according to Aristotle, who derives the term φύσις… -
Necessity (NECESSITÀ)
NECESSITY. - I. PHILOSOPHY. - It is predicated of everything that in some order (ontological, physical, logical and moral) "cannot be… -
Neocriticism (NEOCRITICISMO)
NEOCRITICISM. - Term with which the philosophical currents that take up and develop the themes of Kantian philosophy (v. CRITICISM; KANT)… -
Neoplatonism (NEOPLATONISMO)
NEOPLATONISM. - A philosophical current and school inspired principally by Plato, which arose in Alexandria toward the end of the 2nd… -
Neopositivism (NEOPOSITIVISMO)
NEOPOSITIVISM. - Neopositivism, also called logical positivism, recognizes its formal beginning in the founding of the Wienerkreis (Vienna… -
Neorealism (NEOREALISMO)
NEOREALISM. - An Anglo-American philosophical-scientific movement that forms part of the broader movement of contemporary "realism,"… -
New Scholasticism, The
NEW SCHOLASTICISM, THE. - A quarterly organ of the "American Catholic Philosophical Association," which, after the Congress of American… -
Niccolò of Amiens (NICCOLÒ DI AMIENS)
NICCOLÒ OF AMIENS. - Medieval master active in the second half of the 12th century, perhaps until the beginning of the 13th century. He is… -
Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm
NIETZSCHE, FRIEDRICH WILHELM. - Philologist and philosopher, b. at Röcken in Saxony on 15 Sept. 1844, d. at Weimar on 25 Aug. 1900. A… -
Nifo, Agostino
NIFO, AGOSTINO. - Philosopher, b. at Sessa (Salerno) in 1469-70 (whence he is often called simply Suessanus), d. between 1539 and 1546. He… -
Nominalism (NOMINALISMO)
NOMINALISM. - A philosophical tendency that denies the existence of general concepts, or at least denies that a real content of their own… -
Norma
NORMA. - In Latin, just as in Greek γνώμων or κανών, it properly means the "square," which, by making it possible to draw a line… -
Noumenon (NOUMENO)
NOUMENON. - From the Greek νοοῦμενον (νοῦς, intellect) it means, etymologically, intelligible. The term is referred by Plato (v.) to the… -
Numenius of Apamea (NUMENIO DI APAMEA)
NUMENIUS OF APAMEA. - Philosopher of the 2nd century AD, born in Apamea (Syria), author of important works (On the Divergence of the… -
Object (OGGETTO)
OBJECT. - From ob-icere (ob-iectum, Gk. ἀντι-κλίμενον) it is that which stands opposite, which is placed before. It therefore implies,… -
Objectivism (OGGETTIVISMO)
OBJECTIVISM. - A tendency or orientation, common to philosophical systems that are otherwise different, according to which knowledge does…