La Scienza nuova di Vico rivisitata

The conference analyzes Vico's highly original theory of the history of mentalities and the way in which forms of consciousness influence the dynamics of cultural evolution. Special attention is paid to Vico's interpretation of the moral, psychological, and political forces that determine the decline of nations in the final stages of history. The conference argues that the Scienza Nuova offers one of the most incisive and relevant theories for reflecting on what awaits our civilization tomorrow. Biography Robert Pogue Harrison is Professor Emeritus of Italian Literature at Stanford University. He is the author of five books, including Forests: The Shadow of Civilization (Garzanti, Milan 1992); The Domain of the Dead (Fazi, Rome 2004); Gardens: Reflections on the Human Condition (Fazi, Rome 2009); and The Age of Youth: A Cultural History of Our Time (Donzelli, Rome 2016). He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. He contributes regularly to the New York Review of Books.