Biography of Carlo Cattaneo

Pragmatism and foresight

15 June 1801
6 February 1869
Carlo Cattaneo was born in Milan on 15 June 1801. Student of the liberal philosopher Gian Domenico Romagnosi, in 1824 he graduated in law. From 1828 to 1838 he was editor of the "universal statistical Annals". Strong supporter of industrial progress, he founded the monthly cultural magazine "Il Politecnico"-whose first series runs from 1939 to 1944-with promotional intent of technical and scientific knowledge. The initiative-that mirror the diversity of its author, ranging from history to economics, from politics to philosophy and science-gets great success and gives it a considerable prestige in intellectual circles. His patriotic and liberal conscience, formed also thanks to his teacher, brings him to participate-from Chief of the war Council-the motions of the five days of Milan. The return of Austrians forced him, in August 1848, repair first in Paris and then in Switzerland.
During the voluntary exile Cattaneo takes on Republican and federalist positions, challenging the highest achievers monarchist uprising unlike Mazzini who appears willing to relinquish Republican claims to achieve national unification; at this stage he writes "l'insurrection de Milan en 1848 ', published in 1849, which besides containing a harsh critique of the politics of Carlo Alberto, wants to fulfil even the formative task of a renewed civil society that believes in scientific-technical and economic progress. His strategic vision looks to a United Italy also and above all in terms of economy, which could then enter fully into the European market dynamics. Driven the Austrians, he returned to Milan. In the following years is repeatedly elected but never take part in Parliament's work not to swear allegiance to the monarchy.
In 1859 resumes the publications of "Politecnico", which will last until 1864, giving ample space to the themes of national unity. In 1860 he meets Giuseppe Garibaldi in Naples, which puts its hopes once again, though, will see federalist frustrated. Since then back to Castagnola, Switzerland. Here at the age of 67 years shuts Carlo Cattaneo, on 6 February 1869. Carpenter is the author of many works, almost all United by a common thread: the attempt to bring the philosophy on a less theoretical and more pragmatic, hooking it to the fields of Economics and science. Among the most important are: "natural and civil News out of Lombardy" (1844); "Archivio triennale delle cose of Italy" (1850-55); "I invite alli lovers of philosophy" (1857); "The city considered as ideal ingredient of istorie italiane" (1858); "Thinking as a principle of public wealth" (1859); "Psychology of minds associate" (1859-63); "Memories of public economy" (1860).
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.