Tommaso Campanella

Date of Birth: September 5, 1568

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: May 21, 1639

Biography

Tommaso Campanella was an Italian philosopher, theologian, astrologer, and poet, born on September 5, 1568, in Stignano, Calabria, Italy. He joined the Dominican Order at a young age, adopting the name Tommaso in honor of Thomas Aquinas. Campanella is best known for his philosophical work “City of the Sun,” a utopian text that describes an ideal society governed by reason and natural law. Throughout his life, Campanella was a staunch critic of the political and religious institutions of his time, which led to numerous imprisonments and accusations of heresy. He spent a significant portion of his life incarcerated, where he continued to write and develop his philosophical ideas. Despite his contentious relationship with the authorities, Campanella’s works influenced later thinkers, particularly in the realms of utopian socialism and Enlightenment philosophy. He was also involved in a failed rebellion against Spanish rule in Calabria, which further solidified his status as a controversial figure. After his release from prison in 1626, Campanella fled to France, where he found refuge under the protection of Cardinal Richelieu. He continued to write and engage with intellectual circles until his death on May 21, 1639, in Paris, France.

5 Interesting Facts about Tommaso Campanella

1. Tommaso Campanella joined the Dominican Order at the age of 14.

2. He spent 27 years in prison due to his rebellious activities and controversial writings.

3. His utopian work “City of the Sun” was written during his imprisonment.

4. Campanella was deeply influenced by the works of Thomas Aquinas and sought to reconcile science and religion.

5. He predicted the rise of humanism and modern science in his philosophical writings.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Tommaso Campanella

1. “The world is a great book, of which they that never stir from home read only a page.”

2. “In the City of the Sun, there is no private property.”

3. “True knowledge lies in knowing how to live.”

4. “Nature is a book written by the finger of God in the language of mathematics.”

5. “Our senses are the first philosophers.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a philosopher and theologian living in the 16th and 17th centuries, Tommaso Campanella did not accumulate significant personal wealth. His highest net worth is not documented but would have been modest, given his life circumstances and the eras in which he lived.

Children

Tommaso Campanella did not have any known children. His life was largely dedicated to his religious and intellectual pursuits, and his numerous imprisonments would have made family life difficult.