Prophetic Times
Visions of Emancipation in the History of Italy

Provides the visions of social emancipation that we need.

Maurizio Viroli (Author)

9781009233187, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 January 2023

300 pages
23.5 x 16.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.55 kg

Throughout Italy's history, prophetic voices-poets, painters, philosophers-have bolstered the struggle for social and political emancipation. These voices denounced the vices of compatriots and urged them toward redemption. They gave meaning to suffering, helping to prevent moral surrender; they provided support, with pathos and anger, which set into motion the moral imagination, culminating in redemption and freedom. While the fascist regime attempted to enlist Mazzini and the prophets of the Risorgimento in support of its ideology, the most perceptive anti-fascist intellectual and political leaders composed eloquent prophetic pages to sustain the resistance against the totalitarian regime. By the end of the 1960s, no prophet of social emancipation has been able to move the consciences of the Italians. In this Italian story, then, is our story, the world's story, inspiration for social and political emancipation everywhere.

Part I. From Dante to the Republic of Prophets: 1. Prophets and poets
2. Savonarola's republican prophecy
3. Prophetic Machiavelli
4. The republic of the prophets (1527–1530)
Part II. The Decline of Prophecy and Italy's Bondage: 5. The domination over consciences
6. Prophets of self-denial
7. Prophecy, reason of state and utopia
8. Reverberations of bygone prophetic times
9. Prophets are impostors or fools
10. The revolution of the philosophers and the counterrevolution of the prophets
Part III. The Prophetic Voices of the Risorgimento and the Antifascist Resistance: 11. The times of prophets
12. Prophetic poets
13. Giuseppe Mazzini and his prophetic legacy
14. The autumn of the Risorgimento and the birth of the Republic.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Social & political philosophy [HPS], European history [HBJD]