Grice e Toritto

 The main contribution of  Nicolo Caravita dei Duchi di Toritto to the history of ideas lies in the field of political and legal thought, specifically regarding the relationship between church and state. His work is not typically classified as pure philosophy but rather as legal-historical dissertation with significant implications for political theory.    His primary contribution is his famous treatise, originally published in Latin as Nullum jus romani Pontificis in Regnum neapolitanum (1707), later translated into Italian in 1790 as Niun Diritto Compete Al Sommo Pontefice Sul Regno Di Napoli (No Right Belongs to the Supreme Pontiff Over the Kingdom of Naples).  In this work, Caravita argued against the historical claims of the Papacy to feudal sovereignty over the Kingdom of Naples. His key contributions include: Advocacy for State Sovereignty: He defended the full, independent sovereignty of the Kingdom of Naples, asserting its autonomy from external (papal) authority. This position was a significant statement in the ongoing conflicts between European monarchies and the Papacy over political and ecclesiastical power. Use of Natural Law and Historical-Legal Argumentation: Caravita utilized arguments drawn from natural law theory and extensive historical and legal analysis to support his claims. He sought to establish a rational and historical basis for the king's authority, independent of papal sanction. Influence on the Neapolitan Enlightenment: His work was a foundational text for later Neapolitan jurists and thinkers associated with the Neapolitan Enlightenment, such as Matteo Egizio, who advocated for legal and political reforms that emphasized the state's secular authority and local liberties against both papal and imperial claims.  In essence, his work contributed to the broader European discourse on the secularization of political power and the development of the modern concept of the sovereign nation-state, particularly in the context of late 17th and 18th-century Italy.