Everyone is aware of Philip Mazzei's influence on Jefferson, and the US Declaration of Independence.

Some are aware of Cesare Beccaria's "Crime and Punishment" (It should have been titled "The Inherent Rights of Man") written in 1764, 25 years Before the Declaration of the Rights of Man - 1789 by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789, and 27 years before Thomas Paine's "The Rights of Man" (1991-2). Although Paine quoted from Giacinto Dragonetti, Beccaria's follower, Paine gave no credit to Beccaria.

Beccaria's book had a profound influence on both Jefferson, and John Adams, who since both read Italian (as did Franklin), were claimed to have read it in the original.
However, I was not familiar with Gaetano Filangieri, and his Influence.

What is it with several of our Italian American Academics who seem obsessed with
focusing on any possible NEGATIVE aspect of Italy, (fascism, superstition, mafia) and completely ignore the era between the Rinascimento and Garibaldi, and between Garibaldi and Mussolini?? :(

KOMO News 4
Seattle, Washington
PRNewswire
June 20, 2004

NEW YORK, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Benjamin Franklin requested multiple copies of Enlightenment political philosopher and author Gaetano Filangieri's books on creating legislation for a just society.

Why?

This is one of the topics to be addressed in a one-day conference, "Filangieri and Franklin: From the U.S. Constitution to the European Charter," held in Vico Eqense, Italy, on June 15, 2004. The conference will be held in the Castello Giusso, where Filangieri wrote his seminal The Science of Legislation (1780-1785) and at a time when the European Union is currently drafting its founding Charter.

"Filangieri and Franklin were among the leading thinkers of their day and had a correspondence that spanned five years," noted Lawrence E. Auriana, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation. "By bringing together noted historians and scholars to review and discuss the relationship between Filangieri and Franklin, and their exchange of ideas through reciprocal gifts of books and publications that embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment, we hope to gain a further understanding of the dialogue between these two great men and whether, as some have claimed, Filangieri's ideas were incorporated into the Constitution of the United States of America."

Filangieri (1752-1788) was the son of a Neapolitan prince and trained as a lawyer. The multi-volume "The Science of Legislation" (1780-1785), was translated into a number of European languages and was among the earliest attempts to develop an enlightened code of law based on reason that did not favor the wealthy and royalty. Filangieri called for equal justice for all citizens, universal public education, unlimited free trade and freedom of the press.

Filangieri and Franklin never met, but they corresponded from 1782 to 1787. At the time, Franklin was the distinguished and lauded elder statesman who introduced France and Europe to America's Revolutionary goals; Filangieri was a younger idealist and philosopher who idolized Franklin and wished to participate in the shaping of America.

Among the questions to be discussed at the conference will be whether Franklin, who eagerly read "The Science of Legislation" and requested numerous copies, encouraged the Constitution's framers to incorporate Filangieri's thoughts and theories in the U.S. Constitution.

Conference Information: Title: "International Conference on Filangieri and Franklin: From the Constitution of the United States to the European Charter" Location: Castello Giusso, Vico Equense, Italy Date: June 15, 2004 Hours: 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM Sponsors: The City of Vico Equense Columbus Citizens Foundation, New York Istituto Banco di Napoli Fondazione Fondazione Filangieri, Castello Giusso Additional Support Provided by: The Presidency of the Italian Parliament The Presidency of the Council of Ministers The Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ministry of Italians Abroad

For additional information about the conference, please visit http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/filangieri/

Press contacts: Giuliana Ridolfi Cardillo 917-660-1189 Andrew Decker Andrew Decker Communications 212.222.4688

CONTACT: Giuliana Ridolfi Cardillo, +1-917-660-1189; or
Andrew Decker of Andrew Decker Communications, +1-212-222-4688,
both for Columbus CitizensFoundation, New York

Web site: http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/filangieri

Why Did Ben Franklin Request Multiple Copies of Neapolitan Philosopher Gaetano Filangieri's 'The Science of Legislati'?
http://ww3.komotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1933871