Actualité et inactualité de la métaphysique

Abstract

The present contribution starts from the evidence of the existence of ‘metaphysical moments’ of heightened awareness; they suspend the measurable time of the technical and practical activities, thus counteracting the positivist consideration of nature. Such moments are well evoked in Baudelaire’s and especially Malebranche’s works; anyway, a similar intent to root the human knowledge in a feeling of wonder is also peculiar of the metaphysical reflection of Antonio Rosmini. This is to be found both in Rosmini’s ontology of the ideal being, which is the absolute precondition of every specific act of cognition, and in his enquiry on the divine element in nature, i.e. the ‘legacies’ left by the Creator in natural entities and in man.