FILANGIERI

filangieri, gaetano (1752-1788), italian publicist, was born at naples on the 18th of august 1752. his father, caesar, prince of arianiello, intended him for a military career, which he commenced at the early age of seven, but soon abandoned for the study of the law. at the bar his knowledge and eloquence early secured his success, while his defence of a royal decree reforming abuses in the administration of justice gained him the favour of the king, charles, afterwards charles iii. of spain, and led to several honourable appointments at court. the first two books of his great work, _la scienza della legislazione_, appeared in 1780. the first book contained an exposition of the rules on which legislation in general ought to proceed, while the second was devoted to economic questions. these two books showed him an ardent reformer, and vehement in denouncing the abuses of his time. he insisted on unlimited free trade, and the abolition of the medieval institutions which impeded production and national well-being. its success was great and immediate not only in italy, but throughout europe at large. in 1783 he married, resigned his appointments at court, and retiring to cava, devoted himself steadily to the completion of his work. in the same year appeared the third book, relating entirely to the principles of criminal jurisprudence. the suggestion which he made in it as to the need for reform in the roman catholic church brought upon him the censure of the ecclesiastical authorities, and it was condemned by the congregation of the index in 1784. in 1785 he published three additional volumes, making the fourth book of the projected work, and dealing with education and morals. in 1787 he was appointed a member of the supreme treasury council by ferdinand iv., but his health, impaired by close study and over-work in his new office, compelled his withdrawal to the country at vico equense. he died somewhat suddenly on the 21st of july 1788, having just completed the first part of the fifth book of his _scienza_. he left an outline of the remainder of the work, which was to have been completed in six books. _la scienza della legislazione_ has gone through many editions, and has been translated into most of the languages of europe. the best italian edition is in 5 vols. 8vo. (1807). the milan edition (1822) contains the _opusculi scelti_ and a life by donato tommasi. a french translation appeared in paris in 7 vols. 8vo. (1786-1798); it was republished in 1822-1824, with the addition of the _opuscles_ and notes by benjamin constant. _the science of legislation_ was translated into english by sir r. clayton (london, 1806).