- Title Pages
- Title Pages
- Title Pages
- Preface
- Bibliographical note
- Abbreviations and Notes on Citations
- Chapter 1 Sense and Method of the <i>New Science</i>
- Chapter 2 Genesis of the <i>New Science</i>
- Chapter 3 Structure of the <i>New Science</i>
- Introduction
- Chapter 4 Genesis of the Frontispiece
- Chapter 5 Structure of the Frontispiece
- Introduction
- Chapter 6 Chronological Table
- Chapter 7 Elements
- Chapter 8 Principles
- Chapter 9 Method
- Introduction
- Chapter 10 Tree of Poetic Wisdom
- Chapter 11 Poetic Metaphysics
- Chapter 12 Poetic Logic
- Chapter 13 Poetic Morals, Economy, and Politics
- Chapter 14 Poetic Sciences
- Introduction
- Chapter 15 Search for the True Homer
- Chapter 16 Discovery of the True Homer
- Introduction
- Chapter 17 Threefold Structure of the Course of the Nations
- Chapter 18 Recourse of the Nations
- Chapter 19 On an Eternal Natural Republic
- Glossary of Italian Terms
- Key to English Equivalents
- Chronological Summary of Vico’s Life and Principal Works
- Some Works of Secondary Literature on Vico
- Index of Names
- Plates
Poetic Morals, Economy, and Politics
Poetic Morals, Economy, and Politics
- Chapter:
- (p.140) Chapter 13 Poetic Morals, Economy, and Politics
- Source:
- Vico's "New Science"
- Author(s):
Donald Phillip Verene
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
This chapter examines the section on poetic morals, economy, and politics in the New Science. Morals, economy, and politics fall within the scope of Aristotle’s epistēmēpraktikai or “practical” sciences. Morals or ethics pertains to choice in regard to individual actions and is concerned with character understood as the product of habit. Economy is the smallest unit of statecraft from which the nation arises. This chapter considers Giambattista Vico’s views on the morality of the first men, piety, marriage, and burial, as well as his principles of humanity. It also discusses poetic economy, poetic morals, and poetic politics in relation to a mythological canon that Vico articulates in terms of the pursuits that establish civil society. Finally, it explores Vico’s notion of divine and heroic history within the context of three epitomes or fables that convey a severe truth: the first is that of Cadmus, the second is from the Iliad, and the third is that of the shield of Achilles.
Keywords: poetic morals, poetic economy, poetic politics, New Science, Aristotle, Giambattista Vico, piety, humanity, civil society, fables
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- Title Pages
- Title Pages
- Title Pages
- Preface
- Bibliographical note
- Abbreviations and Notes on Citations
- Chapter 1 Sense and Method of the <i>New Science</i>
- Chapter 2 Genesis of the <i>New Science</i>
- Chapter 3 Structure of the <i>New Science</i>
- Introduction
- Chapter 4 Genesis of the Frontispiece
- Chapter 5 Structure of the Frontispiece
- Introduction
- Chapter 6 Chronological Table
- Chapter 7 Elements
- Chapter 8 Principles
- Chapter 9 Method
- Introduction
- Chapter 10 Tree of Poetic Wisdom
- Chapter 11 Poetic Metaphysics
- Chapter 12 Poetic Logic
- Chapter 13 Poetic Morals, Economy, and Politics
- Chapter 14 Poetic Sciences
- Introduction
- Chapter 15 Search for the True Homer
- Chapter 16 Discovery of the True Homer
- Introduction
- Chapter 17 Threefold Structure of the Course of the Nations
- Chapter 18 Recourse of the Nations
- Chapter 19 On an Eternal Natural Republic
- Glossary of Italian Terms
- Key to English Equivalents
- Chronological Summary of Vico’s Life and Principal Works
- Some Works of Secondary Literature on Vico
- Index of Names
- Plates