French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Trampus, La Naissance du langage politique moderne. L’héritage des Lumières de Filangieri à Constant
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
A. Trampus, La Naissance du langage politique moderne - L’héritage des Lumières de Filangieri à Constant
Classiques Garnier
ISBN 978-2-406-05922-6
EAN 9782406059226
192 pages - Paperback - €29 incl. VAT
This book explores the legacy and circulation of Gaetano Filangieri’s The Science of Legislation, shedding light on why men of letters and politicians continued to draw upon this Enlightenment classic as they shaped the new nineteenth-century Europe.
This volume investigates the transmission of political ideas during a pivotal era of European transformation, tracing how Enlightenment thought directly informed the vocabulary of modern statecraft. By examining the intellectual bridge from Gaetano Filangieri to Benjamin Constant, the study sheds light on the continuous reinvention of reformist ideals across the revolutionary divide. Scholars of intellectual history and political theory will find it a valuable resource for understanding how eighteenth-century legal and philosophical concepts were adapted to meet the institutional challenges of the nineteenth century.
Gaetano Filangieri's major treatise, The Science of Legislation, served as a foundational text for reformers seeking to harmonize legal codes with universal principles of liberty and progress. Benjamin Constant subsequently engaged with these currents while articulating his vision of modern constitutionalism and individual rights. This historical trajectory highlights the persistent dialogue between Italian Enlightenment philosophy and French political discourse. The book will particularly benefit researchers and advanced students exploring the genealogy of modern political language and the evolution of European liberalism.