Sul modello storiografico di Ludovico Geymonat e il suo significato

This essay emphasizes the critical reversal of the traditional historiographical model dominant in history of ideas. If most of the actual scientific currents give more attention to the study of the past world while progressively decreasing their focus on the contemporary world, Geymonat has done the opposite. Therefore, in his History of Philosophical and Scientific Thought, he identifies the birth of modern science as a fundamental turning point from which on nothing should be as before. Therefore, as we approach the contemporary era, his History expands more and more and three large volumes are dedicated to 20th century thought. Secondly, Geymonat’s entire history is traversed by a common thread identified in the privileged relationship that exists between the interweaving of scientific and philosophical thought. The insistence on the philosophical value of scientific thought constitutes another characteristic of this work. Lastly, Geymonat’s approach to history is based on a critically articulated coherent defence of the research programme based on materialism that takes its cue from the lesson of the classics of Marxism. In this perspective, the historiographical and theoretical model outlined by Veblen allows Geymonat to put in place a heuristic criterion capable of reconciling the critical in-depth study of the subject matter with its continuous critical-rational revision.