GIAMBATTISTA VICO
Giambattista Vico who is considered as the greatest Italian Philosopher, was born in Naples, Italy. He studied law but devoted himself to literature, history and philosophy. In 1699 he became professor of rhetoric at Naples. His book Scienze Nuva has been recognised as a landmark in European intellectual history. He influenced many later scholars including Goethe and Marx. He also had strong influence on James Jouce and F. Nietzsche. Initially influenced by Descartes, later rejected his thinking - rejected the "cogito ergo sum", belief in God's existence, and the stress on clear and distinct ideas. Vico put the principle of "Verum Factum" or "Truth is Deed". We can only know for certain that which we have made or created. He was radical in rejecting a fixed idea of man's nature and looking at development and change in society as a whole. Vico also stressed the importance of looking at language, myth, law and ritial in the workings of society