New Science

Although Vico (1668-1744) lived his whole life as an obscure academic in Naples, his New Science is an astonishingly ambitious attempt to decode the history, mythology and law of the ancient world.

• Translated by David Marsh with an Introduction by Anthony GraftonIntroduction by Anthony GraftonTranslator's PrefaceIdea of the WorkExplanation of the FrontispieceBook 1: Establishing PrinciplesChronological TableSection 1. Notes on the Chronological TableSection 2. ElementsSection 3. PrinciplesSection 4. MethodBook 2: Poetic WisdomProlegomenaIntroductionChapter 1. Wisdom in GeneralChapter 2. Introduction to Poetic Wisdom and its DivisionsChapter 3. The Universal Flood and the GiantsSection 1. Poetic MetaphysicsChapter 1. Poetic Metaphysics as the Origin of Poetry, Idolatry, Divination, and SacrificesChapter 2. Corollaries on the Principal Aspects of the New ScienceSection 2. Poetic LogicChapter 1. Poetic LogicChapter 2. Corollaries on Poetic Figures of Speech, Monsters, and MetamorphosesChapter 3. Corollaries on the Speech in Poetic Archetypes of the First NationsChapter 4. Corollaries on the Origins of Languages and Letters; Including the Origins of Hieroglyphics, Laws, Names, Family Arms, Medals, and Money; and the Origins of the First Language and Literature of the Natural Law of NationsChapter 5. Corollaries on the Origins of Poetic Style, Digressions, Inversions, Prose Rhythm, Song, and VerseChapter 6. Further CorollariesChapter 7. Final Corollaries on Logic in Educated PeopleSection 3. Poetic MoralityChapter 1. Poetic Morality and the Origins of the Common Virtues Taught by Religion through the Institution of MatrimonySection 4. Poetic Economics, or Household ManagementChapter 1. Household Management in Nuclear FamiliesChapter 2. Extended Families of Family Servants as Essential to the Founding of CitiesChapter 3. Corollaries on Contracts Sealed by Simple ConsentChapter 4. A Principle of MythologySection 5. Poetic PoliticsChapter 1. Poetic Politics: The Severely Aristocratic Form of the First CommonwealthsChapter 2. All Commonwealths Arise from Invariable Principles of FiefsChapter 3. Origins of the Census and Public TreasuryChapter 4. The Origins of Roman AssembliesChapter 5. Corollary: Divine Providence Ordains both Commonwealths and the Natural Law of NationsChapter 6. Heroic Politics ContinuedChapter 7. Corollaries on Roman Antiquities, Particularly the Imaginary Monarchy at Rome and the Imaginary Popular Liberty Established by Junius BrutusChapter 8. Corollary on the Heroism of the First PeoplesSection 6. Epitomes of Poetic HistoryChapter 1. Epitomes of Poetic HistorySection 7. Poetic PhysicsChapter 1. Poetic PhysicsChapter 2. Poetic Physics of the Human Body: Heroic NatureChapter 3. Corollary on Heroic StatementsChapter 4. Corollary on Heroic DescriptionsChapter 5. Corollary on Heroic CustomsSection 8. Poetic CosmographyChapter 1. Poetic CosmographySection 9. Poetic AstronomyChapter 1. Poetic AstronomyChapter 2. Astronomical, Physical, and Historical Proof that All Ancient Pagan Nations Shared Uniform Astronomical PrinciplesSection 10. Poetic ChronologyChapter 1. Poetic ChronologyChapter 2. Canon of Chronology for Determining the Origins of Universal History, Which Much Antedate the Monarchy of Ninus, its Traditional Starting PointSection 11. Poetic GeographyChapter 1. Poetic GeographyChapter 2. Corollary on Aeneas' Arrival in ItalyChapter 3. Names and Descriptions of Heroic CitiesConclusionBook 3: Discovery of the True HomerSection 1. The Search for the True HomerIntroductionChapter 1. The Esoteric Wisdom Attributed to HomerChapter 2. Homer's Native LandChapter 3. Homer's AgeChapter 4. Homer's Incomparable Gift for Heroic PoetryChapter 5. Philosophical Proofs for the Discovery of the True HomerChapter 6. Philological Proofs for the Discovery of the True HomerSection 2. Discovery of the True HomerIntroductionChapter 1. Inconsistencies and Improbabilities in the Traditional Homer Become Consistent and Necessary in the Homer Discovered HereChapter 2. Homer's Epics: Two Great Repositories of the Natural Law of the GreeksAppendix: A Rational History of the Dramatic and Lyric PoetsBook 4: The Course of NationsIntroductionSection 1. Three Kinds of Human NatureSection 2. Three Kinds of CustomsSection 3. Three Kinds of Natural LawSection 4. Three Kinds of GovernmentSection 5. Three Kinds of LanguageSection 6. Three Kinds of SymbolsSection 7. Three Kinds of JurisprudenceSection 8. Three Kinds of AuthoritySection 9. Three Kinds of ReasonChapter 1. Divine Reason and Reason of StateChapter 2. Corollary on the Ancient Romans' Wisdom of StateChapter 3. Corollary: The Fundamental History of Roman LawSection 10. Three Kinds of JudgmentsChapter 1. First Kind: Divine JudgmentsChapter 2. Corollary on Duels and ReprisalsChapter 3. Second Kind: Ordinary JudgmentsChapter 4. Third Kind: Human JudgmentsSection 11. Three Schools of ThoughtChapter 1. Schools of Thought in Religious, Punctilious, and Civil AgesSection 12. Further Proofs Drawn from the Properties of Heroic AristocraciesIntroductionChapter 1. The Guarding of BoundariesChapter 2. The Guarding of Social OrdersChapter 3. The Guarding of the LawsSection 13Chapter 1. Further Proofs Drawn from Mixed Commonwealths which Combine Earlier Governments with Later StatesChapter 2. An Eternal and Natural "Royal Law" By Which Nations Come to Rest in MonarchiesChapter 3. A Refutation of the Principles of Political Theory Based on the System of Jean BodinSection 14. Final Proofs Confirming the Course of NationsChapter 1. Punishments, Wars, and the Order of NumbersChapter 2. Corollary: Ancient Roman Law as Serious Epic Poem, and Ancient Jurisprudence as Severe Poetry Containing the First Rough Outlines of Legal Metaphysics; also, the Legal Origins of Greek PhilosophyBook 5: The Resurgence of Nations and the Recurrence of Human InstitutionsIntroductionChapter 1. Medieval Barbaric History Illuminated by Ancient Barbaric HistoryChapter 2. The Recurrence of the Invariable Nature of Fiefs, and the Recurrence of Ancient Roman Law in Feudal LawChapter 3. Description of the Ancient and Modern Worlds in the Light of the New ScienceConclusion of the WorkOn the Eternal Natural Commonwealth, Best in its Kind, Ordained by Divine ProvidenceIndex and Glossary