Orbis Idearum: European Journal of the History of Ideas invites submissions for a special issue dedicated to the scholarly work of Gregorio Piaia, one of the most distinguished Italian historians of ideas and historians of philosophy of the contemporary age. For several decades, Piaia’s work has contributed significantly to methodological and historiographical reflection on the history of ideas, intellectual history, and the interpretation of philosophical traditions. His studies have explored the circulation, reception, transformation, and reinterpretation of ideas across epochs and cultural contexts, with particular attention to the relationship between philosophy, historiography, religion, and political thought.
Special attention will be devoted to discussions inspired by his recent volume Tra fortuna e interpretazione: Usi (e abusi) del passato filosofico, which offers an important reflection on the reception, appropriation, and misuse of philosophical traditions in modern and contemporary culture. The volume raises broader questions concerning the legitimacy of interpretation, the historical transmission of concepts, the construction of intellectual genealogies, and the role of historians of ideas in contemporary debates. The aim of this special issue is to promote critical engagement with Piaia’s intellectual legacy and methodological contribution to the field of the history of ideas. Submissions must engage directly with Gregorio Piaia’s work, either through the discussion of his methodological positions, the analysis of themes developed in his writings, or the application and critical assessment of interpretive perspectives connected to his scholarship.
