The periodical La Scienza e la Fede, founded in 1840, served as the primary vehicle for Gaetano Sanseverino to advocate for the restoration of Christian philosophy. Operating from Naples within the Kingdom of Italy, he dedicated his career to reconciling the doctrines of the Church Fathers with the scholastic traditions of Thomas Aquinas.
Academic and Ecclesiastical Career
Born in 1811, Sanseverino received his early education in a seminary in Nola under the guidance of his uncle, who served as rector. Following his ordination as a presbyter, he pursued an extensive academic path in Naples. He held the positions of canon of the cathedral, professor of logic and metaphysics at the seminary, and substitute professor of ethics at the university. He also functioned as a writer for the National Library.
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Although his initial training focused on the Cartesian system then dominant in Italian ecclesiastical schools, his later research shifted toward a comparative study of various philosophical frameworks. This rigorous investigation led him to emphasize the scholastic method. His efforts to promote this approach significantly influenced Pope Leo XIII. The journal he established in 1840 continued operation through his associates, Signoriello and d'Amelio, until 1887.
Major Publications
His primary text, Philosophia christiana cum antiqua et nova comparata, reached five volumes between 1862 and 1865, though it remained incomplete, addressing only logic and psychology. In I principali sistemi della filosofia del criterio, published between 1850 and 1853, he countered the theories of Hume and Gioberti regarding the criterion of truth. He also authored La dottrina di S. Tommaso sull'origine del potere e sul preteso diritto di resistenza in 1853 and Elementa philosophiæ christianæ, intended for classroom use, with the ethics volume finished by Nunzio Signoriello.
Fast facts
- Born: 1811, Naples
- Died: 16 November 1865, Naples
- Occupations: Presbyter, theologian, philosopher
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Italy
- Key journal: La Scienza e la Fede
Questions readers ask
What was the core focus of Gaetano Sanseverino's philosophy?
He focused on the restoration of Christian philosophy by comparing various systems and highlighting the doctrine of Thomas Aquinas and the Church Fathers.
How long did his philosophical journal continue?
Founded in 1840, the periodical La Scienza e la Fede was maintained by his associates until 1887.
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