Croce returned to Naples, where he lived the life of a gentleman-scholar, writing about every issue of contemporary concern. Croce traveled through Spain, Germany, France, and England. He became interested in history after reading the literary historian Francesco De Sanctis. Under the influence of Gianbattista Vico's (1668-1744) thoughts about art and history, he turned to philosophy in 1893.

 

Croce entered the cultural scene in 1896 with his book about the concept of history and its relationship to the concept of art. He noticed that the philosophical foundations of aesthetics did not yet exist and, in following works, he attempted to demonstrate the superiority of arts over the natural sciences. In 1903 he was one of the founders of the magazine La Critica, which appeared until 1943. Croce denounced the paper in the 1920’s after the magazine started to support fascism. Croce also worked as an adviser with his publisher, Laterza and Sons, to produce three highly influential literature series - 'Writers of Italy,' 'Classics of Philosophy,' and 'The Library of Modern Culture.'

 

In 1910 Croce was made senator for life. He married Adela Rossi in 1914; they had four daughters. In 1920-21 he was Minister of Public Instruction and planned school reform. During the reign of Mussolini and World War II, Croce supported democratic principles, although he was skeptical about democracy: "Sound political sense has never regarded the masses as the directing focus of society..." During the Fascist period, Croce lived in isolation as one of the major anti-fascist thinkers in Italy. After the war he was Minister of the new democratic government and member of the Constituent Assembly. From 1943 to 1947 he was President of the reconstituted Liberal party. In 1947 he resigned from politics. On his retirement Croce established the Institute for Historical Studies in Naples, where he had a magnificent collection of books. Croce died in Naples on November 20, 1952.

 

"The artist is always morally blameless and philosophically irreproachable, even though his art may have for subject matter a low morality and philosophy: insofar he is an artist, he does not act and does not reason, but composes poetry, paints, sings, and in short, expresses himself." (from Nuovi saggi di estetica, 3rd ed., 1948)

 

Benedetto Croce was born in Pescasseroli, Abruzzi, into a moderately wealthy land owning family. He was educated at a Catholic boarding school - his parents were both pious Catholics. In 1883 Croce lost his parents and his sisters in an earthquake on the island of Ischia. He was buried for several hours and severely injured. He went to live with his uncle in Rome and studied law at the university.

The Benedetto Croce

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