The Filangieri-Franklin Exchange: Bridging Values Across the Atlantic from Enlightenment to Modernity

This presentation delves into the pivotal correspondence between Gaetano Filangieri, a beacon of the Neapolitan Enlightenment, and Benjamin Franklin, a foundational figure in American democracy, starting in August 1782. It spotlights their discussions on governance, justice, and economic reforms as emblematic of shared Enlightenment values of rationality and progress. These exchanges not only influenced the ideological landscapes of Italy and the nascent United States but also contributed to the broader European unity movement. Highlighting Filangieri's influence, the talk emphasizes the shared values that have shaped the contours of democratic governance and societal norms in Italy and the United States, and to a certain extent also in the context of European integration, underscoring the enduring impact of their transatlantic dialogue on contemporary global discourse and policymaking.