Lodovico Antonio Muratori (1672-1750). Enlightenment in a Tridentine Mode

Lodovico Antonio Muratori (1672-1750), one of the most prominent figures in eighteenth-century Italy, has been subject to different interpretations, especially for what concerns his relationship with the Enlightenment. Through the analysis of his work, this article shows that Muratori was somehow sympathetic to the spirit of the Enlightenment. Muratori’s view on “reasonable Christianity” that flourished in the post-tridentine age reveals the existence of a Christian background of the Enlightenment. Furthermore, Muratori’s intellectual journey proves that conscious Christian thinkers and representatives of the Enlightenment could engage in dialogue.