Naples, Italy – Biagio De Giovanni, a towering figure in Italian intellectual and political life, has passed away at the age of 95. The renowned philosopher, academic, and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) died on April 22, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of profound thought and unwavering political commitment.
A Life Dedicated to Philosophy and Politics
Born in Naples in 1931, De Giovanni earned his law degree from Federico II University, specializing in the philosophy of law with a thesis on Giambattista Vico. From the outset, he recognized that his path lay in philosophical inquiry, not as an end in itself, but as a means to transform society. This conviction fueled his constant political engagement throughout his life.
His early adherence to the Italian Communist Party (PCI) marked him as a critical yet constructive voice within the left. He served as a professor at Federico II, then at the Universities of Bari and Salerno, and finally at the Oriental University of Naples, where he taught Political Doctrines and served as rector from 1987 to 1989.
Intellectual Leadership and Political Transitions
From 1981 to 1986, De Giovanni directed “Il Centauro. Rivista di filosofia e teoria politica,” a significant journal that attracted prominent progressive thinkers such as Angelo Bolaffi, Massimo Cacciari, Umberto Curi, Roberto Esposito, and Giacomo Marramao. These were years of intense reflection within the Italian left, grappling with the seismic shifts brought about by the fall of the Berlin Wall.
De Giovanni anticipated these changes with influential works like “La nottola di Minerva” (1989), which explored new perspectives for a robust reformism, followed by “Dopo il Comunismo” (1990). He actively participated in the transition, enthusiastically embracing Achille Occhetto’s motion at the 1991 dissolution congress of the PCI, which led to the formation of the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS).
He served as an MEP for the PCI in 1989 and for the PDS in 1994, later joining the Democrats of the Left (DS) and finally the Rose in the Fist (Rosa nel Pugno), a political formation founded in 2005 with radical and socialist inspirations.
Academic Achievements and Lasting Works
A member of the Accademia dei Lincei, De Giovanni’s extensive bibliography includes numerous essays that shaped contemporary Italian thought. Among his later publications are “Sul partito democratico. Opinioni a confronto, con Massimo Cacciari e Giuseppe Galasso” (2007), “A destra tutta. Dove si è persa la sinistra?” (2009), “Kelsen e Schmitt. Oltre il Novecento,” “Marx filosofo,” and “Libertà e vitalità. Benedetto Croce e la crisi coscienza europea,” all published in 2018. His final works, “Figure di apocalisse. La potenza del negativo nella storia d’Europa” (2022) and “Giordano Bruno, Giambattista Vico e la filosofia meridionale,” revisited his cherished themes, tracing back to his university thesis.
Public Tributes and Condolences
The city of Naples will host a wake for Biagio De Giovanni in the Sala dei Baroni of Castel Nuovo on April 23, from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM, arranged by the municipal administration in agreement with his family.
Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi expressed profound sorrow: “De Giovanni was a protagonist of intense intellectual activity: his passion for philosophy, law, and politics shaped generations of students. His reflections on the relationship between rights and power enriched the debate and contributed to the country’s growth. Even in his institutional roles, he always made a generous and fruitful contribution. Naples and Italy lose a man from whom we all learned so much.”
Roberto Fico, President of the Campania Region, added: “With Biagio De Giovanni, we lose an intellectual of extraordinary rigor, who united philosophical thought and political commitment. His academic and institutional activity testifies to a constant dedication to building a democratic culture founded on the connection between knowledge and public responsibility. De Giovanni represented a point of reference for generations of scholars and citizens. His teachings will continue to guide all those who believe in the importance of knowledge and participation as fundamental tools of democratic living.”
Former Naples Mayor Antonio Bassolino remarked: “A great loss for Naples and for Italian culture. We lose a man of value, a teacher for several generations, a beautiful person. Great is therefore the regret and pain. We met many years ago and frequented each other for a lifetime. I loved him very much.” Gianni Pittella, former Vice-President of the European Parliament, praised De Giovanni as a “refined intellectual and protagonist of Southern political culture.” Condolences also came from Fulvio Martusciello (FI) and Clemente Mastella, among many others across the political spectrum.
Minister Alessandro Giuli commented: “The passing of Biagio De Giovanni represents a profound loss for Italian culture. A rigorous scholar and refined interpreter of contemporaneity, he was able to combine philosophical reflection with constant attention to the changes in society and democratic institutions. To his family and to all those who shared his human and cultural journey, my deepest condolences.”
Naples Archbishop Domenico Battaglia offered a poignant tribute: “The news reaches me with the weight of those losses that concern an entire city, a season of Naples’ intellectual life. De Giovanni traversed the twentieth century and the new century with the rare freedom of one who never stops questioning, of one who made philosophical inquiry not an academic exercise, but a form of responsibility towards humanity and history. An passionate custodian of the great Southern speculative tradition, from Bruno to Vico, from Croce to Gramsci, he held together rigor and passion, depth of thought and love for this difficult and extraordinary city. Biagio De Giovanni did not belong to our faith. I say this with respect and affection, not to mark a distance, but to recognize a journey lived with integrity. Those who seek truth with honesty, who dedicate their lives to the common good, who love their people with that discreet fidelity that runs through his pages, are already on their way – perhaps without knowing it – towards that God who is Logos, Creative Reason, Truth that precedes all our thought. The Council taught us that the seeds of the Word are present wherever the Spirit blows. And the Spirit blows where it wills. Naples loses one of its brightest sons. May the Lord welcome him into His light.”
Source: Corriere della Sera – Napoli
