Heroism and Wisdom, Italian Style: From Roman Imperialists to Sicilian Magistrates

This interdisciplinary work philosophically analyzes concepts such as heroism, practical wisdom, honor, Nietzsche's notions of will to power, the overman, and the three metamorphoses, Platos understanding of love, creating meaning in life, the issue of morally dirty hands in political administration, the relationship between political means and ends, the proper role of positive duties in society, the aspirations of grand strivers, and the linkages between biological, biographical, and autobiographical lives. It explains and evaluates the lives and works of fourteen historically significant Italian figures, including Gaius Julius Caesar, Brunetto Latini, Dante Alighieri, Caterina Sforza, Niccol Machiavelli, Giuseppe Mazzini, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Francesca Cabrini, Gabriele DAnnunzio, Antonio Gramsci, Salvatore Giuliano, Oriana Fallaci, Giovanni Falcone, and Paolo Borsellino. By dissecting the lives and philosophies of these figures, extracting moral, political, and existential lessons, reflecting on their ideals, evaluating their virtues and vices, and confronting the conceptual puzzles and social impediments hampering the exercise of practical wisdom and heroism, the work aims to confront the people we are and reimagine the people we might become.

Format: Hardback
Length: 354 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2022
Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

This is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration that delves into profound philosophical concepts such as heroism, practical wisdom, honor, Nietzsche's notions of will to power, the overman, and the three metamorphoses, Platos understanding of love, the quest for meaning in life, the ethical dilemmas of political administration, the relationship between political means and ends, the role of positive duties in society, the aspirations of grand strivers, and the interconnectedness between biological, biographical, and autobiographical lives. Within the framework of this work, we examine the lives and works of fourteen historically significant Italian figures: Gaius Julius Caesar, Brunetto Latini, Dante Alighieri, Caterina Sforza, Niccolò Machiavelli, Giuseppe Mazzini, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Francesca Cabrini, Gabriele DAnnunzio, Antonio Gramsci, Salvatore Giuliano, Oriana Fallaci, Giovanni Falcone, and Paolo Borsellino. By meticulously dissecting these individuals' lives and philosophies, we seek to extract valuable moral, political, and existential lessons from their aspirations and endeavors. We reflect on their ideals from the diverse perspectives of our contemporary social context, evaluating their virtues and vices in a broader context. Moreover, we confront the conceptual puzzles and social barriers that hinder the exercise of practical wisdom and heroism, aiming to expand our understanding of human potential and the possibilities for personal growth. Through this comprehensive exploration, we hope to engage with the essence of our humanity and reimagine the people we can become.

Weight: 649g
Dimension: 238 x 157 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781683933571