Robert Harrison on Human Intelligence

Italo Calvino's "Mr. Palomar" is a collection of short stories that explore the complexities of perception and the human experience. The stories follow Mr. Palomar, a man who observes the world with meticulous attention to detail. His observations often lead to philosophical reflections on the nature of reality and the limitations of human understanding. Calvino's masterful use of language and imagery creates a world that is both familiar and strange. The book's blend of realism and philosophical reflection has earned it enduring popularity. The stories offer a unique and engaging perspective on the human experience in the modern world.

In 'The New Science', Vico presents a comprehensive and original work that prefigured the Age of Enlightenment. The book explores the development of civilization through recurring cycles (corsi e ricorsi) of three ages: the divine, the heroic, and the human. Vico argues that civilization is shaped by human imagination and the common sense (sensus communis) of communities. He also emphasizes the role of language and metaphor in the development of human societies. Despite being largely ignored in his lifetime, Vico's work has had a profound influence on thinkers such as Ranke, Marx, and Joyce.