Linguistics and philosophy

Giacomo Devoto in discussion with Benedetto Croce

Abstract

This paper explores Giacomo Devoto’s discussion with Benedetto Croce’s philosophy, with a particular focus on the alleged «anti-philosophism» of Italian linguists in the early 20th century. In contrast to Giovanni Nencioni’s interpretation of the Devotian stance as a rejection of philosophical engagement, this study reexamines that claim through an analysis of a key but often overlooked work by Devoto: Pensieri sul mio tempo (1945). Although Devoto advocated for the separation of linguistic study from philosophy, he did not entirely dismiss philosophical principles, engaging with the theoretical legacy of Crocean philosophy, particularly regarding the boundaries between linguistic and philosophical inquiry. Furthermore, the paper revisits the notion of Devoto’s «anti-philosophism» and offers a more nuanced understanding of his position, highlighting his effort to establish an autonomous linguistic discipline without fully severing ties with philosophical discourse.