Nicola Spedalieri
Nicola Spedalieri (actually Spitaleri; born December 6, 1740 in Bronte, † November 26, 1795 in Rome ) was an Italian philosopher, Roman Catholic priest and author. He is considered a pioneer of human rights and popular sovereignty on a Christian foundation.
Life and effect
Spedalieri was Oratorianerschüler in Monreale (Sicily, Kingdom of Sicily), and studied theology at the Archbishop's Seminary. After ordination in 1764 he taught at the seminary philosophy, theology and mathematics. Some of his theological theses earned him the suspicion of lack of orthodoxy; in papal Rome but were recognized in 1772 and printed. Then Spedalieri 1773 went to Rome.
In Rome Spedalieri also wrote poems in addition to theological and philosophical writings and was recorded in 1774 under the pseudonym Melanzio Alcioneo in the Academy of the Arcadia. From his work as a painter reflects the self-portrait of 1774th Pope Pius VI. gave him an office on St. Peter's Basilica, which was connected to of paid sinecures, and commissioned him to write a history of the draining of the Pontine plain. In the following years he created his most important apologetic works, in which he took up their humane concern in confrontation with the secular Enlightenment, however, they sought to put on a Christian foundation.
This line is also pursuing the work that earned him severe criticism, but also lasting fame, De ' diritti dell'uomo - "On Human Rights", in which he responded to the Declaration of Human and Civil Rights in revolutionary France. Here creation moderate given human rights and outgoing people from state power are derived from Christian principles for the first time. Reactionary forces reached the suppression of the initially widespread book. The young Italian nation-state Spedalieri was considered by many as a champion of the basics. In 1903, he set in Rome a monument, created by the renowned sculptor Mario Rutelli. It stands on the Piazza Sforza Cesarini on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
As Spedalieri died suddenly at the age of 55 years, the rumor that he had been poisoned spread.