Nicola Abbagnano (1901–90) was an Italian existentialist philosopher known for his rationalist approach and contributions to modern thought. His works emphasized the philosophy of the possible, challenging existentialist pessimism.
Born in Salerno, Italy, he studied philosophy at the University of Naples, earning his degree in 1922. His early works, Le sorgenti irrazionali del pensiero (1923, The Irrational Sources of Thought) and Il problema dell’arte (1925, The Problem of Art,) explored scientific methodology and aesthetics.
In 1936, Abbagnano became a philosophy professor at the University of Turin, developing positive existentialism, rejecting Heidegger and Sartre’s deterministic views. His seminal work, La struttura dell’esistenza (1939, The Structure of Existence,) introduced his alternative existentialist framework. He later published Introduzione all’esistenzialismo (1942, Introduction to Existentialism) and Esistenzialismo positivo (1948, Positive Existentialism.)
Abbagnano co-founded the Centro di studi metodologici in Turin and co-edited Rivista di filosofia with Norberto Bobbio. His Storia della filosofia (1946–50, History of Philosophy) became a standard reference in Italian philosophy.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Nicola Abbagnano
Reason itself is fallible, and this fallibility must find a place in our logic.
—Nicola Abbagnano
Topics: Reason
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