3. EARLY WRITINGS
In 1872 Caverni was ready with his first publications. There are the curious
“Ricreazioni scientifiche” (scientific pastimes), a column at once instructive
and amusing where science is handled in a conversational and easily com
prehensible manner, while the part reserved for the history of science (for
example, to science in Dante) is characterized by profound research and a
rigorous exposition that is not always easy and never elementary. These articles,
which appeared periodically, were first printed in the magazine La Scuola that
had just been founded by Augusto Alfani (another Florentine who knew how
to reconcile faith and science and, even more daring, was among those who
hoped to see closer ties between Church and State). They were continued in the
periodical Letture di famiglia and collected under the same title in a volume
published in 1882 which Giovannozzi in 1910 declared was already almost im
possible to find. I myself have never seen it even mentioned in a catalogue.
“Ricreazioni scientifiche” (scientific pastimes), a column at once instructive
and amusing where science is handled in a conversational and easily com
prehensible manner, while the part reserved for the history of science (for
example, to science in Dante) is characterized by profound research and a
rigorous exposition that is not always easy and never elementary. These articles,
which appeared periodically, were first printed in the magazine La Scuola that
had just been founded by Augusto Alfani (another Florentine who knew how
to reconcile faith and science and, even more daring, was among those who
hoped to see closer ties between Church and State). They were continued in the
periodical Letture di famiglia and collected under the same title in a volume
published in 1882 which Giovannozzi in 1910 declared was already almost im
possible to find. I myself have never seen it even mentioned in a catalogue.
Another series of articles appeared in the same magazines in almost the same
period, but was concluded more rapidly. This series was entitled “Consigli
sopra allo studio delle lettere a un giovanetto” (advice to a young man on the
study of literature) and was published in volume form in 1879 with the title
Dell'arte dello scrivere (on the art of writing). (Unfortunately, the copy at the
Nazionale of Florence was a victim of the flood.) Together with these, Caverni
also published studies of Dante's physics which were never reprinted alone. In
1874 his first book appeared: Problemi naturali di Galileo e della sua scuola
(natural problems of Galileo and his school), published by Sansoni and, like his
other works, not easily found today. His Dizionarietto di voci e modi dell'uso
popolare toscano nella Divina Commedia (little Dictionary of Tuscan words and
phrases in the Divine Comedy), published in 1877, was however destined to
enjoy a certain popularity.
period, but was concluded more rapidly. This series was entitled “Consigli
sopra allo studio delle lettere a un giovanetto” (advice to a young man on the
study of literature) and was published in volume form in 1879 with the title
Dell'arte dello scrivere (on the art of writing). (Unfortunately, the copy at the
Nazionale of Florence was a victim of the flood.) Together with these, Caverni
also published studies of Dante's physics which were never reprinted alone. In
1874 his first book appeared: Problemi naturali di Galileo e della sua scuola
(natural problems of Galileo and his school), published by Sansoni and, like his
other works, not easily found today. His Dizionarietto di voci e modi dell'uso
popolare toscano nella Divina Commedia (little Dictionary of Tuscan words and
phrases in the Divine Comedy), published in 1877, was however destined to
enjoy a certain popularity.
4. STUDIES Sulla filosofia delle scienze naturali (ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF
NATURAL SCIENCE) AND THEIR BANNING BY THE CONGREGATION OF THE
HOLY OFFICE
NATURAL SCIENCE) AND THEIR BANNING BY THE CONGREGATION OF THE
HOLY OFFICE
In the meantime, the Rivista Universale (universal magazine) began to appear
in Florence, soon changing its letterhead to Rassegna Nazionale (national
review). The Treccani terms it the magazine of conservative Catholics, but
Giovannozzi is more detailed and precise, recalling it as the periodical that was
the “champion, for many years the only one, of the struggle for faith and
nationality indissolubly united,” when during the long papacy of Leon XIII
(1878-1903) such a program was considered almost nonsensical and little less
than heretical. Caverni immediately took advantage of this arena and in 1875
and 1876 published a series of epistemological studies which Giovannozzi
properly calls “his most beautiful work.” The original title was Sulla filosofia
in Florence, soon changing its letterhead to Rassegna Nazionale (national
review). The Treccani terms it the magazine of conservative Catholics, but
Giovannozzi is more detailed and precise, recalling it as the periodical that was
the “champion, for many years the only one, of the struggle for faith and
nationality indissolubly united,” when during the long papacy of Leon XIII
(1878-1903) such a program was considered almost nonsensical and little less
than heretical. Caverni immediately took advantage of this arena and in 1875
and 1876 published a series of epistemological studies which Giovannozzi
properly calls “his most beautiful work.” The original title was Sulla filosofia