Emanuele Severino produced the first Italian dissertation on Martin Heidegger and the Metaphysics while studying at the University of Pavia. Born in Brescia in 1929, he established a career that challenged Western philosophical traditions, eventually becoming a prominent figure in theoretical philosophy who remained active in Italy throughout his long academic tenure.
Academic Trajectory and Departure
After graduating from the University of Pavia under the supervision of Gustavo Bontadini, Severino began his academic life within the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. His relationship with the institution changed in 1970 when he broke publicly from Bontadini. This transition led him to the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where he spent many years as a teacher and researcher.
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Severino developed a unique position referred to as neoparmenidism. He argued that the history of philosophy, from the ancient Greeks to the modern era, rested on a fundamental error: the belief in becoming. By defining Being as the totality of existence, he rejected the notion that any entity could emerge from or return to nothingness. This stance directly challenged the ontological difference proposed by Heidegger and drew criticism for its rejection of standard metaphysical distinctions.
Conflict with Religious and Mathematical Perspectives
In 1970, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith determined that his philosophy was incompatible with Christianity because his concept of the eternity of all being rendered a Creator God unnecessary. Outside of theology, his work faced scrutiny from other disciplines. Mathematician Piergiorgio Odifreddi criticized Severino for his perceived disregard for the importance of science, while other scholars, including Alfonso Berardinelli and Battista Mondin, questioned his interpretation of the principle of non-contradiction and the definition of entities.
Legacy and Recognition
Severino was a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and held various titles, including Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He was awarded the Gold medal for merit in school, culture and art. Before his death in Brescia in 2020, he continued to be identified as a central figure in theoretical philosophy, notably in a 2019 interview with Giuseppe Conte.
Fast facts
- Born: 1929, Brescia, Italy
- Died: 2020, Brescia, Italy
- Education: University of Pavia
- Primary Field: Theoretical Philosophy
- Citizenship: Italian
- Key Recognition: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Questions readers ask
Why was Severino’s work considered incompatible with Christianity?
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ruled that his belief in the eternity of all beings effectively excluded the necessity of a Creator God.
What is the core of Severino’s neoparmenidism?
He proposed that Being is the totality of what exists and remains constant, rejecting the historical philosophical assumption that things come from or return to nothing.
Achievements
- Gold medal for merit in school, culture and art
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Held posts at Ca' Foscari University of Venice
- Fields: theoretical philosophy and philosophy
