Gaetano Filangieri at The Borghese Gardens, Rome

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Gaetano Filangieri was born on August 22, 1752. He was a renowned Italian jurist and philosopher. Born in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Naples province, Italy, he began his military career at seven but later switched to studying law. At the bar, his expertise and eloquence quickly earned him success, and his defense of a royal decree reforming justice administration earned him favor from King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Prime Minister Bernardo Tanucci, leading to several court appointments. In 1780, Filangieri published the first two books of his masterpiece, La Scienza della legislazione. The first book outlined the principles governing legislation, while the second focused on economic questions. These two volumes showcased Filangieri as a passionate reformer who vehemently condemned the abuses of his time. He advocated for unlimited free trade and the abolition of medieval institutions hindering production and national well-being. His work gained immediate acclaim not only in Italy but across Europe. In 1783, Filangieri married, resigned his court positions, and retired to Cava to focus on completing his work. In the same year, he published the third book, which dealt exclusively with criminal jurisprudence principles. A suggestion he made regarding church reform sparked ecclesiastical authorities' disapproval, leading to condemnation by the Index congregation in 1784. Filangieri continued working on La Scienza della legislazione, publishing three additional volumes in 1785 that formed the fourth book of his projected work. These volumes explored education and morals. In 1787, he was appointed to the supreme treasury council by Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies but soon withdrew due to health issues related to overwork. Filangieri died on July 21, 1788, after completing part one of the fifth book. He left behind an outline for the remaining six books in La Scienza della legislazione. His work has undergone numerous editions and translations. A notable Italian edition was published in eight volumes in 1807, while a Milan edition from 1822 includes selected works and a biography by Donato Tommasi. A French translation of La Scienza della legislazione appeared in Paris between 1786 and 1798. Benjamin Franklin, an admirer of Filangieri's work, corresponded with him from 1780 until his death in 1788, as recorded by the Gaetano Filangieri Philosophical Society.