Fra realtà e utopia

Spontanea religiosità, opposizione al lusso e piacere nel lavoro in Francesco Longano

Abstract

This essay takes into account the reforming needs proposed by Antonio Genovesi’s school in the second half of the 18th century, in order to reflect on the figure of the Molisan thinker Francesco Longano. This philosopher, taking inspiration from the egalitarian ideals close to Rousseau’s theory, suggests a totally new social, political, and economic renewal, based on the values of a spontaneous sense of religion, sobriety, and frugality versus those philosophers who saw in luxury a driving force of social development. On the contrary, the Molisan thinker considers luxury as the cause of the lack of balance and inequality among the members of a community. The impossibility to put into practice his ideals of progress led Longano, in the last part of his life, to seek refuge in a utopia which becomes manifest in the city of Filopoli.