Massimo Ferrari

Abstract“Growth” or “Revolution”? Ernst Cassirer and History of Science. Ernst Cassirer's contributions to history of science have been long time neglected. The aim of this paper is to show the historical and philosophical framework of Cassirer's engagement in this field, starting from his seminal work about the problem of knowledge in science and philosophy of the modern age. Moreover the author suggests that Cassirer's late studies about Galilei and the origins of mathematical science are of some interest in order to comprehend both his commitment to contemporary history of science (from Burtt to Koyré) and his intellectual heritage for our agendas in a post‐Kuhnian era.

This note examines Fulvio Tessitore’s objections formulated in his critical review of Massimo Ferrari’s paper Non solo sentieri interrotti . According to the author, Tessitore has misunderstood his interpretation of historicism, as well as his interpretation of the German philosophy within the Italian philosophical culture after the Second World War. Moreover, Tessitore suggests that the author’s position is the consequence of a sort of prejudice towards the history of philosophy practised in Napoli. The author shows the incorrectness of this opinion, trying to sketch another view of this philosophical enterprise beyond any geographic boundary and local patriotism