Vanessa Romani Argues for Rediscovering Philosophy Against a Culture of Usefulness

Since the 1923 Gentile reform, Italian philosophy has been a part of upper secondary education, introducing a three-year curriculum, in contrast to the 1859 Casati law, which restricted it to the last year. Enrico Berti emphasizes Gentile's idealistic perspective. Currently, the humanities are experiencing a crisis, with many regarding philosophy as irrelevant. In her 2011 publication, Martha Nussbaum criticized this trend, pointing out society's prioritization of economic advancement over humanistic studies. Lasch's 1979 analysis identifies a crisis of values in modern society. Vattimo cautioned that diminished philosophy education could lead to dehumanization, while Heidegger associated technology with a loss of significance. The article advocates for a revival of philosophy to enhance self-awareness and safeguard freedom of thought. This piece is authored by Vanessa Romani for MIfacciodiCultura and published by Artspecialday.