Vico and Naples: The Urban Origins of Modern Social Theory

(Cornell University Press) This book explores the life of Neapolitan philosopher Giambattista Vico (1668-1744), revealing the politics and motivations of one of Europe’s first scientists of society. He has traditionally been seen as removed from the larger community, however, Naddeo shows that at the beginning of his career Vico was very engaged in the life of his city and these experiences helped shape his future inquiry. Naddeo shows how these and other events in his life eventually lead to the origins of his powerful notion of the social. Naddeo is an associate professor of history at CUNY: The City College of New York.