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Yes, Paolo Mattia Doria and his contemporaries within Giambattista Vico’s intellectual circle in Naples acted as hosts and points of contact for visiting English literary and philosophical figures.
The most prominent example of this cross-cultural intellectual exchange involves Anthony Ashley Cooper, the 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, along with other notable British travelers on the Grand Tour, including George Berkeley. [1, 2]
The specific connections and figures involved in these visits showcase this historical intersection:
Paolo Mattia Doria and Lord Shaftesbury
- The Interaction: The English philosopher and literary essayist, Lord Shaftesbury, spent the final years of his life in Naples (from 1711 until his death in 1713) seeking a warmer climate for his respiratory health. While there, he integrated deeply into the local intellectual scene. [1]
- The Neapolitan Host: Paolo Mattia Doria (1662–1746)—a central figure of the Neapolitan Enlightenment, close associate of Vico, and fellow member of the Accademia de' Medinaceli—frequently met and conversed with Shaftesbury. [1]
- The Intellectual Impact: Despite a language barrier (they often communicated through intermediaries or written translations), their philosophical alignment was profound. Doria was a staunch Platonist. He utilized Shaftesbury’s anti-Lockean theories on virtue, sociability, and the "moral sense" to combat what he viewed as the cold, utilitarian materialism of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. These interactions left a lasting mark on Neapolitan political economy and the "Civil Life" (La Vita Civile) framework championed by Doria and later Antonio Genovesi. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The Broader Vico Circle: Valletta and Galiani
While Doria provided direct philosophical companionship to Shaftesbury, the broader network of Vico’s circle operated through key institutional "hosts" who managed large libraries and salons frequented by English travelers: []
- Giuseppe Valletta: A prominent jurist, scholar, and close friend of Vico, Valletta curated one of the most magnificent private libraries in Naples. His salon was the definitive stop for visiting English virtuosi, including the essayist Joseph Addison (who visited in 1701) and the Anglo-Irish philosopher George Berkeley (who visited in 1714). Valletta acted as the literal host, introducing these figures to the unique intellectual current of Naples—a blending of traditional Cartesianism, Gassendism, and emerging English empiricism.
- Celestino Galiani: Later in Vico's life, Galiani's circles and the Accademia delle Scienze became the main hub for integrating British thought (such as Isaac Newton and Locke) into Naples. Galiani and his associates regularly hosted British travelers tracking the progress of Italian mathematics and natural philosophy. [1, 2]
Did Vico Meet Them Directly?
Historians (most notably Fausto Nicolini) have long debated whether Vico met Shaftesbury or Berkeley face-to-face. While direct documentation of a personal meeting between Vico and Shaftesbury remains elusive, they shared the exact same tight-knit circle of friends, frequented Valletta’s library, and read each other's works. Vico’s later writings, particularly his critiques of Hobbes and his development of Scienza Nuova, show a sharp awareness of the British philosophical debates brought right to his doorstep by these travelers. [1, 2]
If you would like to explore this historical period further, please let me know:
- Would you like to focus on the philosophical debates (e.g., how they argued against Hobbes and Locke)?
- Are you interested in the artistic commissions that came out of these visits (like Shaftesbury hiring Neapolitan painters)?
- Do you want to examine George Berkeley's specific travels and observations while in Southern Italy? [1, 2, 4]
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