Abstract

When in 1722 Jean Le Clerc in Amsterdam praised in print two early works of Vico, he was the first scholar of international repute to give the Neapolitan philosopher and historian the recognition he so desperately sought. Despite this propitious beginning—and despite continuous work by Dutch scholars in political and juridical theory—this book is the first serious study of Vico from the Netherlands. It sets itself apart from most recent Vico literature for two reasons: it offers an integral assessment of his thought and development, countering the "kaleidoscopic" tenor of contemporary interpretations; and it scrutinizes in particular his too-neglected political and juridical theory.