Benedetto Croce, the philosopher, historian, and literary critic, was a prominent figure in liberalism. Born in Pescasseroli, Italy, he grew up in a wealthy and liberal family. Despite receiving a Catholic education in a school attended by the elite of Neapolitan society, he declared himself an atheist at the age of 18. Tragically, he lost his family in an earthquake that struck the town of Casamicciola on the island of Ischia. However, he inherited their fortune and was able to focus on his passion for philosophy without financial concerns. He relocated to Rome, where he was captivated by the city’s vibrant cultural scene. The philosophy of Giambattista Vico and the influence of Labriola inspired him to write “Materialisme Historique et e conomie marxiste.”
For several years, he worked on developing a philosophical system that emphasized idealism in four key areas: aesthetics, logic, economics, and ethics. These ideas were published between 1902 and 1909. Additionally, he founded a magazine called La crÃtica. Before Mussolini came to power, Croce held a position as a senator. However, when the fascist regime took control, he relinquished all public offices and emerged as a moral guide for the antifascist movement. This decision led to conflicts and the end of his friendship with Gentile, a prominent philosopher of the time.
Following the fall of fascism and the end of World War II, Croce reentered the political arena, working towards the reconstruction of the liberal party. Croce’s idealism presented a reformulated version of the Hegelian dialectic. Essentially, his philosophy centered around the belief that spiritual activity constituted the ultimate reality. According to him, humans possessed inherent experiences of the spirit, which consisted of two forms: intellectual (art and philosophy) and practical (economics and ethics). Unlike Hegel’s system, Croce omitted nature and religion, while considering logic as part of the philosophy of the spirit. Ultimately, he did not view religion as an autonomous entity, but rather as a collection of poetic, philosophical, and moral motives.
For Croce, life and reality were rooted in history and nothing but history, reflecting his concept of absolute historicism. Aesthetics held great significance in his philosophy, representing the autonomy of art. In terms of narrative, Croce saw the human spirit as the focal point of history, encompassing various aspects such as economics, ethics, art, and philosophy. His belief was that history constituted the fullest expression of mankind’s search for truth, merging inseparably with philosophy. Consequently, historical knowledge held the only theoretical validity.
Croce’s influence extended beyond philosophy into the realm of literary criticism, significantly impacting Italian culture at the time. However, his literary endeavors often contradicted his own theoretical positions, as he tended to overemphasize the works of authors such as Giosue Carducci while dismissing various literary expressions of the twentieth century.