Philosophy of the Modern Age

The Problem of Knowledge in Giambattista Vico: History, Philosophy, and Philology

The eminent Italian thinker of the modern era, Giambattista Vico (1688-1744), is notable for his conscious effort to establish the foundations of socio-historical knowledge. He was struck by the simple realization that philosophers diligently pursued the study of the "Science of the Natural World," created by God and accessible only to Him (recalling Socrates here), while neglecting to contemplate the "World of Nations," or the "World of Civil Society," crafted by humanity, knowledge of which can be attained by people. Vico articulates the condition for any truth accessible to humanity: only that which is created by the knower can be considered known, thus "verum et factum convertuntur" (the true and the created coincide). From this, we can draw the following conclusions: a) what is known must be created by the knower; b) one must first create and then know.

The human achievements that Vico discusses primarily encompass forms of government, types of social relationships, systems of natural law, and the "orders" of civil society. Philosophy of history (though Vico does not directly use this term) should capture the general and singular logic governing the life of all nations through a careful analysis of the human thoughts that guide individuals in refining the structures of their daily lives. The ideas that have manifested as human achievements are preserved in the languages of peoples, reflected in artistic creativity, and serve as the empirical foundation for philosophical-historical inquiry. Philosophy and philology converge: "Through prior philosophical proofs, subsequent philological proofs affirm their Authority through Reason, and Reason through its authority." It is essential to note that for Vico, philology is a broad empirical science—"the study of all that depends on human will: this includes all Histories of Languages, Customs, and Events, both peaceful and warlike among nations."

Giambattista Vico posited that each nation, throughout its history, undergoes three stages—the "age of gods," the "age of heroes," and the "age of men." The sequential transition among these three stages constitutes what Vico refers to as the "Eternal Ideal History," according to which, under the guidance of "Divine Providence," "history must have unfolded thus in the past, must unfold thus in the present, and must unfold thus in the future for all nations."