EUROPA: An Idea and a Journey

About the Book

The essays in this book are the distillation of years of reflection, writing, lecturing and active participation in the ongoing debate on the cultural identity of the European Union, the vicissitudes of the transatlantic dialogue, the envisioning of new social paradigms, the building of more solid and more relevant bridges of understanding between two continents that have a common Western humanistic tradition albeit synthesized to other cultures in America. While the approach is personal, it remains interdisciplinary and holistic throughout, rooted in the poetic philosophy of history of Giambattista Vico and encompassing literature, philosophy, myth, linguistics and political science, on the edge of boundaries between the historical grand narrative, the religious and even the quotidian and the anecdotal. These thirty essays trace the origins of Western Civilization and the synthesis of Humanism and Christianity that is the Renaissance, but also, Janus-like face, they look forward to a new Renaissance and humanistic synthesis yet to be envisioned and forged, that will dare to be both old and new, that will encompass the poetical as well as the rational without losing sight of the universality of our common humanity. The journey may be long arduous but it has already begun some sixty years ago. Moreover, these essays will appeal especially to those readers who are perplexed at the loss of humanistic modes of thought in our post-modern technological society. A book sure to stimulate the intellect and the imagination of its readers. They are given to understand from the outset that Europe, more than a geographical political reality, is an evolving idea, and it is her destiny to live or die as such. The readers will be provided with a Vichian chart to assist them in intellectually navigating and journey on this unique idea called Europa.

About the Author

Emanuel L. Paparella, a former professor of Italian at the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Central Florida, is the author of Hermeneutics in the Philosophy of Giambattista Vico (Mellen Press, 1993), also of A New Europe in Search of its Soul (Authorhouse, 2005) as well as various article on Italian Literature, History and Philosophy, especially the philosophy of Vico. He holds a B.A. from Saint Francis College (philosophy major), an M.A. from Middlebury College and an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Italian Humanism from Yale University. He has studied Comparative Literature at New York University, is a former Fulbright scholar and has directed for five summers the study abroad program at the University of Urbino. He has also done a major translation: Vittorio Possenti’s Philosophy and Revelation (Ashgate Publishing, London, 2001). Since the year 2000 he has actively participated in the debate on the European Union initiated by Tony Blair and Romano Prodi, while lecturing and teaching Humanities and philosophy at Barry University and Broward College. He is now semi-retired but continues to lecture and teach philosophy and humanities. He lives in Sunrise, Florida with his wife Cathy, his three daughters Cristina, Alessandra and Francesca and his two grandchildren Sophia and Nicholas. Another one is on its way.