'IL PRINCIPIO DISTRUGGENTE' E 'L'ETERNO FANCIULLO'. ODIO E AMORE NEL PENSIERO POLITICO DI LEOPARDI

This study analysis Leopardi’s thought about amor proprio and amor patrio (let.: love of self driven by pride and jealousy; patriotism), concepts that have been discussed at great length in Zibaldone, with very important conclusions also in other works, especially Operette morali. Staring from the two concepts we can analyze the original interpretation that Leopardi gave in some Rousseau’s works, in particular Discourse on Inequality, and later we can examine the concept of hate in its philosophical and political meaning. It is then analyzed the problem of Christianity in relation to amor patrio and Leopardi’s readings on hate thematic are highlighted: Polibio, Sallustio and Velleio Patercolo, Machiavelli and Montesquieu. In the second part it is underlined how the theory of social hate of Leopardi comes from the theory of metus hostilis presented by Polibio and other classical historiographers who followed. Finally I analyzed the concept of love, always under the philosophical and political point of view: once he has abandoned the idea of a hate capable of keep the society alive, Leopardi studies love as solidarity and sign of altruism and endurance of life. Some Operette morali and La ginestra, that I examined in the last chapter, have been inspired by this concept of love.