Dante Alighieri's Convivio: Nobility of the Soul Over Wealth

An article on Artspecialday examines Dante Alighieri's concept of nobility as articulated in his Convivio, written between 1304 and 1307. Born in Florence between May 21 and June 21, 1265, and died in Ravenna on the night of September 13-14, 1321, Dante used vernacular Italian to make knowledge accessible to all, challenging the Latin-literate elite. He argued that true nobility lies in the purity of soul and desire for knowledge, not in wealth or social status. The Convivio, a medieval summa, aimed to share human knowledge communally. Dante criticized literate scholars who used learning for monetary gain, comparing them to a cithara owner who lends the instrument for profit rather than playing it. The article, by Sabrina Pessina for MIfacciodiCultura, suggests reviving Dante's interclassist notion of nobility as ethical and cultural richness.