Civilization of Modernity: An Anthology of Carlo Cattaneo's Writings

Carlo G. Lacaita, University of Milan, is former Professor of Contemporary History and chairs the Committee for the publication of Cattaneo’s works. He has published monographs and many articles on the role of scientific and technological culture in modernization, including L’intelligenza produttiva (2005) and Le vie dell’innovazione (2009).Alberto Martinelli, University of Milan, is Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the School of Social, Political and Economic Sciences. He was also previously President of the International Social Science Council. His publications include Global Modernization (2005), Transatlantic Divide (2007), Democrazia globale (2008), Mal di nazione (2013), and European Society (2020).

"By presenting a well-curated and annotated anthology of the writings of the Italian scholar and politician, it offers an opportunity for those who do not read Italian to engage with the multi- and interdisciplinary work of the Milanese thinker. (...) What distinguishes and makes this work useful are also the two introductory chapters by two renowned scholars—among the greatest living specialists on Cattaneo—Carlo G. Lacaita and Alberto Martinelli, as well as a short biography of the Milanese thinker and an Editors’ Note that clarifies the selection criteria. (...) This book (...) represents both the perfect introduction to Cattaneo for the English-speaking public and a stimulating read for those already familiar with his work." – M. Campopiano, E. Pasini, in: Journal of Interdisciplinary History of Ideas, Volume 14, Issue 27, Item 7 (31 July 2025), pp. 7: 1-4"Nel riproporre oggi questi testi, i curatori intendono sottolineare tutta l’attualità e la sistematicità del pensiero di Cattaneo, in una chiave originale e, merita sottolinearlo, estremamente convincente. (...) l'antologia The Civilization of Modernity, per come è stata concepita, strutturata e realizzata, si configura come un ottimo distillato del pensiero cattaneano, e in quanto tale ci si augura incontri l’interesse dei lettori internazionali cui, in definitiva, il libro è destinato." – Emilio Scaramuzza, in: Il Cantonetto, Volume 2 (December 2025)"Nel sottolineare alcuni meriti di questo volume vorrei cominciare con l'indicare alcuni aspetti formali, ma non per questo meno preziosi. Un elemento che aggiunge valore al libro è l'ampia appendice bibliografica, articolata in tre sezioni: gli scritti di Cattaneo, gli scritti di Cattaneo citati, e gli scritti su Cattaneo citati. Questa struttura rende il volume uno strumento di grande utilità per chi desideri approfondire i temi trattati, offrendo sia fonti primarie che secondarie. (...) Il principale punto di forza del volume è tuttavia sicuramente quello di rendere evidente una volta per tutte che lo studio di Carlo Cattaneo richiede un approccio interdisciplinare, capace di sollecitare collaborazioni e confronti tra studiosi provenienti da ambiti diversi." – Claudia Rotondi, Università Cattolica di Milano, Istituto Lombardo Accademia di Scienze e Lettere, in: Bancaria, I (2026), pp. 89-94

• List of FiguresCarlo Cattaneo: BiographyEditors’ NoteModernization and Civilization in Carlo CattaneoCarlo G. Lacaita1 Introduction2 Cattaneo’s Education and the Main Principles of His Thought3 The First Period of Activity4 Il Politecnico: Reforms and Growth5 The Events of 1848 and Federalism6 Cattaneo’s Years in Canton Ticino7 The Second Series of Il Politecnico8 His Last YearsThe Relevance of Cattaneo TodayAlberto Martinelli1 Introduction2 Cattaneo’s Concept of Modern Civilization: Responsible Freedom; Intelligence and Will; Federal Democracy3 Faith in Reason and the Centrality of Science4 On Thought as a Principle of Public Economy5 Inequalities and Reform-Oriented Social Research6 Psychology of Associated Minds7 Global/Local Tension in the Context of Global ModernityPart 1 History and Philosophy of Civilization1 An Invitation to Lovers of Philosophy2 Aspects of World History: A Preface3 Features of European Civilization4 On Vico’s New Science5 Introductory Lecture to a Course in Civil Philosophy6 Fragments of Seven PrefacesPart 2 Modernization and the Scientific Method7 The Birth of Modern Science1 The Birth of Modern Science2 The City as the Ideal Principle of Italian Histories8 On the Making and Progress of the Third Estate9 The Eighteenth Century10 On Antithesis as a Method of Social Psychology11 On Thought as a Principle of Public EconomyPart 3 Modern Economic Development12 On Friedrich List’s National Economics13 On British Agriculture as Compared to our Own14 The Industry of Birmingham15 Railways and Universal Trade1 Report by the Committee for the Railways of Canton Ticino to the Assembly of Citizens Held on 4May 18562 On the International Importance of the Gotthard Railway Line. Memo from the Committee of Canton Ticino to the Swiss Federal Councils.3 On the Railway from the Swiss Alps to Central Europe: Letter to the Citizens of GenoaPart 4 Social Issues16 Industry and Ethics17 Public Charity18 A Pamphlet by Ferdinand Lassalle19 For the Federation of Italian Workers’ Societies1 Observations on the Federation of Workers’ Societies2 Draft Regulations for the Federation of Italian Workers’ SocietiesPart 5 Federalism National and International20 On the Events of 18481 The United States of Europe2 Considerations on the State of Affairs in Italy in 184821 Preface to VolumeXI of the Politecnico22 On the Reorganization of Scientific Studies23 On the Communal and Provincial Laws1 First Letter2 Second Letter3 Third Letter4 Fourth Letter24 A Letter to the Free ElectorateCattaneo’s WritingsCited Cattaneo’s WorksCited Works on CattaneoIndex of NamesIndex of Subjects