Angelo Pirotta

Angelo Pirotta
Born December 27, 1894
Naxxar, Malta
Died November 16, 1956
Naxxar, Malta
Occupation Philosophy
Parents John Mary Pirotta (1867-1946) and Antonia née Camilleri (1875-1929)

Angelo Pirotta, O.P. (1894-1956) was a major Maltese philosopher. His areas of specialisation in philosophy were chiefly epistemology and metaphysics.[1]

Contents

Life

The Early Years

Pirotta was born at Naxxar, Malta, on December 27, 1894.[2] Even if his family lived hand to mouth, he was the first of thirteen children, three of whom died in infancy.

Pirotta was first privately schooled by Canon Fortunato De Bono. Later, he eventually enrolled on a regular course at the government-owned high school for boys (the Lyceum) at Valletta. He completed the course at the Lyceum up till the age of sixteen. Thereafter, he joined the Dominicans almost immediately, on April 30, 1911.

Initial Formation

At Rabat, together with his companions, Pirotta began his novitiate, and then, a year later, made his simple (three-year) profession on May 12, 1912. Thereafter, he began his institutional studies; three years of philosophy (1912-15), and four of theology (1915-19), of course all according to the [Thomist] tradition. He made his religious profession on May 11, 1915

After completing his second year of theology (1916-17), Pirotta was chosen to continue his theological studies at Angelicum College in Rome, Italy. In the meantime, he was ordained a priest by on September 22, 1917, at the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta.

In Rome Pirotta resided at the Angelicum College itself. After his two years of theology (1917-19), on July 1, 1919, he successfully set for his Lectorate exams with a dissertation entitled De Reali Distinctione inter Essentiam et Esse in Creatis (The Real Distinction between Essence and Existence in Created Being). Thereafter, he proceeded with his post-graduate studies in philosophy (1919-21). Meanwhile, he also prepared his doctorate thesis, entitled De Supposto et Persona, which he successfully defended on, July 1, 1921.

The Italy Years

At Viterbo

Pirotta’s first academic assignment was at Viterbo. Here he spent five academic years (1921-26), teaching history of philosophy, natural science (also called ‘physics’), and theodicy (theologia fundamentalis; now called natural theology). Here he was frequently invited to address the Circulus Philosophicus (Philosophical Discussion Group), and was also asked to contribute to prestigious Thomistic periodicals, read sermons, and give speeches. At Viterbo, Pirotta also prepared his first major publication, and frankly his most successful composition to date: an exposition of Aquinas’ commentary on Aristotle’s De Anima (On the Soul).

At Rome

After Viterbo, Pirotta returned to Rome to assume a teaching post at the Angelicum College. Here Pirotta remained for just two years (1926-28), teaching philosophy, theodicy, logic, and ontology.

In terms of literary production, Pirotta’s Roman years correspond to a very prolific and industrious period. He wrote reviews, scientific articles, and even prepared and published his second major work: another exposition on Aquinas’ commentaries on Aristotle’s De Sensu et Sensato (On Sense and Sensibility) and De Memoria et Reminiscientia (On Memory and Remembrance).

Interlude in Malta

In 1928 Pirotta had to retire momentarily to his homeland since his family was in dire straits. One of his brothers became seriously ill, and his mother was ill and dying. She succumbed on July 5, 1929.

In Malta Pirotta spent two academic years (1928-30), residing and lecturing at Rabat, Malta. More or less as usual, Pirotta read philosophy, the history of philosophy, and apologetics. He also continued to publish steadily, especially scientific reviews and articles.

At Fiesole

Back in Italy, Pirotta was sent to College of Fiesole, near Florence, Italy. The college here was not a public one, but the academic institution that prepared Dominican students for the priesthood. Pirotta stayed here for just one academic year (1930-31), reading the history of philosophy, and the treatise on divine revelation.

Here he also worked upon the first of his six-volumned Summa Philosophæ (The Sum of Philosophy), which he published in 1931. He also prepared for his Masters. The final exam was successfully held on May 7, 1931, in Rome at the Angelicum College, which by that time had been upgraded to the status of an international university. As was the usual practice, the title was conferred four years later. The official investiture was held at the Dominican Priory at Rabat, Malta on November 24, 1935.

At Naples

After Tuscany came Naples. Here, at the Aquinas College of the Dominicans, Pirotta did not go simply as a lecturer, but as a Rector (‘Lectorem Primarium’). He stayed here for three consecutive academic years (1931-34).

At Naples, Pirotta may be considered to have been at the peak of his academic career. At the beginning of his experience there he published the first of his planned six-volumned Summa Philosophæ: a study about Aristotelico-Thomistic logic, called the Philosophia Rationalis (Rational Philosophy). Later, he proceeded to publish his third exposition: this time of Aquinas’ commentary on Aristotle’s Ethicorum ad Nichomachum (Nichomachean Ethics).

In Malta

In 1934, Pirotta was recalled to Malta, at Rabat, Malta. During the first academic year (1934-35) he was just a lecturer of philosophy. In the following year, however, he was chosen to be the Rector of the college. He retained this office for nine years, up till 1944, which included the worst of the World War II years in Malta.

At the beginning of the 1935-36 academic year, Pirotta was officially conferred with his Masters. A few months later, he issued his second volume of the Summa Philosophiæ, the one dealing with natural philosophy, and called Philosophia Naturalis.

In 1938 Pirotta applied for the Deanship of philosophy at the Royal University of Malta. Though unmatched or much less unsurpassed by any other contender, he lost the competition nonetheless. Though he took the rebuff most gracefully, Pirotta decided to make some drastic changes to his life. Thus, from 1939 onwards, right up to his death, he lived the larger part of his days at Naxxar, staying at his convent at Rabat, Malta only as little as possible.

At Rabat, Malta Pirotta was still the Rector, and still read philosophy at the college there. Also from 1939 onwards, he acted as supplementary examiner at the Royal University of Malta. He further continued to deliver sermons here and there, and even to hear confessions on a regular basis.

Retirement and Death

Before the war was over, at the end of the academic year of 1943-44, Pirotta – now almost fifty years of age – was relieved of the post of Rector at Rabat, Malta. During these years he assiduously worked on his next publication, which evenentually had to be his last. This was his fourth exposition, the one on Aquinas’ eight books of commentaries on Aristotle’s De Physico Auditu (Physics). It was published in 1953.

One fatal day in the latter part of 1955, Pirotta became victim of acute cerebral vascular insufficiency due to diabetes and chronic smoking. As a result, his memory had become seriously impaired, and so was his reasoning powers. He died at his parents’ home at Naxxar on November 16, 1956, a month short of his sixty-second birthday, and buried in the Dominican church of Our Lady of the Grotto at Rabat, Malta.

Works

Opus Magnus

  • VOL. I – Philosophia Rationalis (Rational Philosophy; 1931) – This book in Latin, containing 267 pages (and twelve preliminary pages with Roman enumeration), was published by Marietti of Turin, Italy. It is the first volume of Pirotta’s incomplete Summa Philosophiæ project. The volume opens with a preface and a general introduction to philosophy; and closes with a chart that shows the classification of the philosophical sciences according to the Aristotelico-Thomistic school of thought. All paragraphs contained in the book are numbered. Essentially, Pirotta’s Rational Philosophy is a study about logic.
  • VOL. II – Philosophia Naturalis (Natural Philosophy; 1936) – The second volume of the incomplete Summa project took five years to finalize. This book is also in Latin, as most of Pirotta’s writings, and contains 820 pages, excluding the eight preliminary pages with Roman enumeration. Like the other volume, it was published with Marietti of Turin, Italy. The book opens with a foreword to the reader, and an introduction; and concludes with an appendix. All paragraphs contained in the book are numbered. Obviously, the writing deals with natural philosophy.
  • VOL. III – Metaphysica Ostensiva Generalis seu Ontologia (General Demonstrative Metaphysics or Ontology; c.1935-40)[3] – This volume in the series should have began to present Pirotta’s work on metaphysics. Unfortunately it was never published, though its manuscript shows that it was in an advanced state of composition.
  • VOL. IV – Metaphysica Ostensiva Specialis: Metaphysica Entis Creati (Specific Demonstrative Metaphysics: the Metaphysics of Created Being; c.1935-40)[4] – Again, this writing, intended to be the fourth volume in a series of six forming the Summa Philosophiæ Aristotelico-Thomisticæ, was never completed. In its present form of preparation it is difficult to say what the complete final product would have been. The extant manuscript has parts that are compete and others that aren’t. Certainly, whole parts that would have been part of the final version have never been written. The whole manuscript is made up of 580 large folios.
  • VOL. V – Metaphysica Ostensiva Specialis: Metaphysica Entis Increati sive Theologia Naturalis seu Theodicea (Specific Demonstrative Metaphysics: the Metaphysics of Uncreated Being otherwise Natural Theology or Theodicy; c.1935-40)[5]– Surprisingly, amongst the four incomplete manuscripts of Pirotta’s Summa Philosophiæ Aristotelico-Thomisticæ, this is the most complete. In fact, though it had to be the fifth volume of the series, the Metaphysica Ostensiva Specialis is practically all ready to go to the printers. It is a matter of speculation whether Pirotta actually intended to publish this fifth volume before the third and fourth. The manuscript is made up of 569 folios.
  • VOL. VI – Metaphysica Defensiva seu Critica (Explicative Metaphysics or Criteriology; c.1935-40)[6] – This is most incomplete of Pirotta’s series of manuscripts related to his Summa Philosophiæ Aristotelico-Thomisticæ. The philosopher worked very little on it as a whole, though then segments of it are actually finalized. The entirety of the extant manuscript comprises a staggering 1260 large folios. However, due to its undeveloped state of composition it is practically impossible to imagine what the final shape of the work would have taken.

Commentaries

The commentaries would represent the main output for a Thomistic intellectual with which he really shows his mettle. Apart of Pirotta’s two published volumes that were part of his Summa Philosophiæ Aristotelico-Thomisticæ, published in 1931 and 1936 respectively, these commentaries―especially the first on the De Anima―were in fact the intellectual productions that effectively brought Pirotta most renown.

Articles

Unlike the commentaries, these articles take up some point or aspect of a particular theme on which Pirotta expands upon. With the exception of the very early ones, published by Pirotta when still at the beginning of his career, the rest are master works that would have been minuely scrutinized by the editorial boards concerned before publication, and furthermore exposed Pirotta’s intellect to a wide readership within international Thomistic academic circles. After publication, almost all of these articles had been subsequently distributed as separate extracts.

Scientivic Reviews

The following reviews, though interesting in themselves, contain little philosophical value. What they do attest to is the standing Pirotta enjoyed with the various editors of the respective scientific journals who had valued Pirotta’s proficiency enough so as to consider him an academic and intellectual worthy of passing authoritative judgement on the writings of other reputed Thomists. Pirotta does not disappoint. He showers praise when earned, but certainly does not shy away from lashing out when warranted.

Manuscripts

Pirotta’s manuscripts are invaluable documents, as they attest to his background operational activities, and moreover to the keenness and responsibility with which he undertook any commitment, especially those of a philosophical nature. Most of the following texts are incomplete, as Pirotta had not as yet given them their final finishing. To some he surely intended to add on other material. Nonetheless, even as they stand, these documents can be taken as reliable attestations to Pirotta’s proficiency of labour, and intensity of thought.

Philosophical Notes

The following list of notes are working annotations prepared by Pirotta for various publications, academic talks, or lectures, over an extended period of time. All of them are undated. Some of them had been grouped by Pirotta under the title ‘Studia Philosophica’ (Philosophical Studies). Their philosophical interest is not to be undervalued. While some of the documents hereunder are full written drafts, others are just elaborate schemes of branches of Aristotelico-Thomistic philosophy.

Academic Talks

The following written texts are full transcripts of talks read by Pirotta on various occasions at the several academic institutes, both in Malta and in Italy, that he was part of. None of them have ever been published.

Sermons

The following texts are the extant sermons that Pirotta read during his pastoral work. All of them have been probably delivered in Malta, even the Italian ones. Roughly speaking, the Italian orations would have been read to diocesan priests or members of religious orders, and the Maltese ones to the general faithful. Though most of them do not contain any philosophical interest, some of them do bear witness to Pirotta’s philosophical type of mind, even when treating spiritual or religious matters.

In Italian

Pirotta’s extant sermons in Italian are all collected at the Dominican archives at Rabat, Malta. Most of the titles are Pirotta’s own.

In Maltese

Pirotta’s extant sermons in Maltese are collected in separate groups of manuscripts (as indicated). They are all kept at the Dominican archives at Rabat, Malta. The titles are generally Pirotta’s own.

Appreciation

Pirotta was the last of major philosophers within the school of Scholasticism. With him, an era of Scholastics, extending back to the latter part of the 16th century, starting with John Matthew Rispoli, came to an end. Today, as philosophy took new shapes and adopted different language-forms, Pirotta might appear almost incomprehensible in his world-view and philosophical method. This is further intensified his consistent use of Latin, a language very few still remember how to use or read.

Though a great speculative thinker, it is somewhat difficult to gauge Pirotta’s originality. Surely his lack of concrete commitment with things social and political, as any old-time, first division scholastic would be, today makes him suspect of a certain lack of concern for world affairs as for the fate of humans. However, the scholastics had another way of understanding what philosophical service to humankind should be. Arguably, they sought to enlighten the highest (or most profound) aspects of reason, there where the quality of life might be improved and perfected.

Much work is still needed to continue discovering the wealth which philosophers of the calibre of Pirotta possessed.

References

  1. ^ Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001, Vol. II, pp. 50-51.
  2. ^ All biographical information is reproduced from Mark Montebello’s Angelo Pirotta: A Maltese philosopher of the first water, Maltese Dominican Province, Malta, 2006, with full permission of the copyright holders.
  3. ^ ADR, MSS. A164##1 u 2.
  4. ^ ADR, MSS. A165##1 and 2.
  5. ^ ADR, MS. A166.
  6. ^ ADR, MS. A167#1, #2 u #3.
  7. ^ ADR, MS. A168.
  8. ^ Ir-Rusariu Imkaddes, Yr.7, 1-5.
  9. ^ Ir-Rusariu Imkaddes, Yr.8, 256-260, 266-279.
  10. ^ Ir-Rusariu Imkaddes, Yr.9, 126-128, 136-139, 165-168, 179-181, 201-204; Yr.10, 30-32, 89-92.
  11. ^ Divus Thomas (Fribourg), 3B, 1, 2, 185-204.
  12. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Ser.3, Yr.2, 329-338.
  13. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Ser.3, Yr.2, 517-535, Ser. 3, Yr.3, 210-258; Ser.3, Yr.4, 484-513; Ser.3, Yr.5, 449-479.
  14. ^ Angelicum, Yr.3, 278-298.
  15. ^ Angelicum, Yr.4, 252-270; 430-453
  16. ^ Ephemerides Theologicæ Lovanienses, Yr.5, Issue 1.
  17. ^ Ephemerides Theologicæ Lovanienses, Yr.6, Issue 3, 405-438.
  18. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Ser.3, Yr.6, 574-585; Ser.3, Yr.7, 129-148; Ser.3, Yr.7, 360-385; Ser.3, Yr.7, 560-575.
  19. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Ser.3, Yr.9, 271-234; republished in Scientia (Malta), 1935, 1, 16-35.
  20. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Ser.3, Yr.11, 437-468; 568-581.
  21. ^ Rivista di Filosofia Neo-Scolastika, 27.
  22. ^ Melita Theologica, 1, 1, 16- 34.
  23. ^ Divus Thomas (Fribourg), 3, 2, 1, 125-126.
  24. ^ Divus Thomas (Fribourg), 3, 2, 2, 366-367.
  25. ^ Divus Thomas (Fribourg), 3, 2, 3, 377-379.
  26. ^ Divus Thomas (Fribourg), 3, 3, 1, 108-110.
  27. ^ Angelicum, Yr.3, 318-320.
  28. ^ Angelicum, Yr.3, 320-322.
  29. ^ Angelicum, Yr.3, 514-516.
  30. ^ Angelicum, Yr.4, 141-145.
  31. ^ Angelicum, Yr.4, 145-148.
  32. ^ Angelicum, Yr.4, 300-302.
  33. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), 30, 1, 177-180.
  34. ^ Ephemerides Theologicæ Lovanienes, Yr.5, Issue 2, 472-473.
  35. ^ Ephemerides Theologicæ Lovanienes, Yr.5, Issue 2, 473-474.
  36. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), 31, 3, 516-518.
  37. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Ser.3, Yr.6, 309-312.
  38. ^ Ephemerides Theologicæ Lovanienes, Yr.6, Issue 2, 281-282.
  39. ^ Ephemerides Theologicæ Lovanienes, 7, 4, 697-699.
  40. ^ Divus Thomas (Piacenza), Ser.3, Yr.7, 91-92.
  41. ^ ADR, MS. A207.
  42. ^ ADR, MS. A149.
  43. ^ ADR, MSS. A156-8.
  44. ^ ADR, MS. A150.
  45. ^ ADR, MS. A151.
  46. ^ ADR, MS. A152#1.
  47. ^ ADR, MS. A152#2.
  48. ^ ADR, MS. A153.
  49. ^ ADR, MS. A153.
  50. ^ ADR, MS. A154.
  51. ^ ADR, MS. A159#1.
  52. ^ ADR, MS. A155.
  53. ^ ADR, MS. A160.
  54. ^ ADR, MS. A169.
  55. ^ ADR, MS. A167/2#2/I.
  56. ^ ADR, MS. A167/2#2/II.
  57. ^ ADR, MS. A167/2#2/III.
  58. ^ ADR, MS. A167/4.
  59. ^ ADR, MS. A159#2.
  60. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#4.
  61. ^ DAR, MS. A170/1#6.
  62. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#8.
  63. ^ Family Pirotta Collection.
  64. ^ Family Pirotta Collection.
  65. ^ Family Pirotta Collection.
  66. ^ ADR, MS. A171#1.
  67. ^ ADR, MS. A171#2.
  68. ^ ADR, MS. A171#3.
  69. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1##1-3.
  70. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#5.
  71. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#7.
  72. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#9.
  73. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#10.
  74. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#11.
  75. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#12.
  76. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#13.
  77. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#14.
  78. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#15.
  79. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#16.
  80. ^ ADR, MS. A170/1#17.
  81. ^ ADR, MS. A170/2#1.
  82. ^ ADR, MS. A170/2#2.
  83. ^ ADR, MS. A170/2#3.
  84. ^ ADR, MS. A170/2#4.
  85. ^ ADR, MS. A170/2#5.
  86. ^ ADR, MS. A170/2#6.
  87. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#1.
  88. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#2.
  89. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#3.
  90. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#4.
  91. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#5.
  92. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#6(1).
  93. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#6(2).
  94. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#7(1).
  95. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#9(1).
  96. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#9(2).
  97. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#10.
  98. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#11.
  99. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#12.
  100. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#14.
  101. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#15.
  102. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#16.
  103. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#17.
  104. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#18.
  105. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#19.
  106. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#13.
  107. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#7(2).
  108. ^ ADR, MS. A170/3#8.
  109. ^ ADR, MS. A172#2.
  110. ^ ADR, MS. A172#7.
  111. ^ ADR, MS. A172#8.
  112. ^ ADR, MS. A172#3.
  113. ^ ADR, MS. A172#4.
  114. ^ ADR, MS. A172#5.
  115. ^ ADR, MS. A172#6.
  116. ^ ADR, MS. A161#1.
  117. ^ ADR, MS. A161#2.
  118. ^ ADR, MS. A161#3.
  119. ^ ADR, MS. A161#4.
  120. ^ ADR, MS. A161#5.
  121. ^ ADR, MS. A161#6.
  122. ^ ADR, MS. A161#7.
  123. ^ ADR, MS. A161#8.
  124. ^ ADR, MS. A161#9.
  125. ^ ADR, MS. A161#10.
  126. ^ ADR, MS. A161#11.
  127. ^ ADR, MS. A161#12.
  128. ^ ADR, MS. A161#13.
  129. ^ ADR, MS. A161#14.
  130. ^ ADR, MS. A161#15.
  131. ^ ADR, MS. A161#16.
  132. ^ ADR, MS. A161#17.
  133. ^ ADR, MS. A161#18.
  134. ^ ADR, MS. A161#19.
  135. ^ ADR, MS. A161#20.
  136. ^ ADR, MS. A172#9.
  137. ^ ADR, MS. A162#1.
  138. ^ ADR, MS. A162#2.
  139. ^ ADR, MS. A162#3.
  140. ^ ADR, MS. A162#4.
  141. ^ ADR, MS. A162#5.
  142. ^ ADR, MS. A162#6.
  143. ^ ADR, MS. A162#7.
  144. ^ ADR, MS. A162#8.
  145. ^ ADR, MS. A162#9.
  146. ^ ADR, MS. A162#10.
  147. ^ ADR, MS. A162#11.
  148. ^ ADR, MS. A162#12.
  149. ^ ADR, MS. A162#13.
  150. ^ ADR, MS. A162#14.
  151. ^ ADR, MS. A162#15.
  152. ^ ADR, MS. A162#16.
  153. ^ ADR, MS. A162#17.
  154. ^ ADR, MS. A162#18.
  155. ^ ADR, MS. A162#19.
  156. ^ ADR, MS. A162#20.
  157. ^ ADR, MS. A162#21.
  158. ^ ADR, MS. A162#22.
  159. ^ ADR, MS. A162#23.
  160. ^ ADR, MS. A162#24.
  161. ^ ADR, MS. A162#25.
  162. ^ ADR, MS. A163#1.
  163. ^ ADR, MS. A163#2.
  164. ^ ADR, MS. A163#3.
  165. ^ ADR, MS. A163#4.
  166. ^ ADR, MS. A163#5.
  167. ^ ADR, MS. A163#6.
  168. ^ ADR, MS. A163#7.
  169. ^ ADR, MS. A163#8.
  170. ^ ADR, MS. A163#9.
  171. ^ ADR, MS. A163#10.
  172. ^ ADR, MS. A163#11.
  173. ^ ADR, MS. A172#1.

Sources

See also

Philosophy in Malta