Anastasio Cuschieri
Encyclopedia
Anastastio Cuschieri was a Maltese poet
, politician
, and minor philosopher. He held the Chair of Philosophy at the University of Malta
(1901-39). In philosophy he was mostly interested in ethics
.
, Malta
, on January 27, 1876. He joined the Carmelite Order on April 25, 1891, at 19 years of age. That same year he began pursuing his institutional studies in philosophy
and theology
at the University of Malta
. He made his religious profession on August 28, 1892. On completion of his university courses in 1898, Cuschieri was ordained a priest, and sent sent to Rome
, Italy
, to pursue studies in philosophy and theology at the Jesuits’ Gregorian Univeristy. In 1901 he became a Doctor of Philosophy
and a Doctor of Theology
.
(1906-10; 1913-16).
, especially from 1915 onwards (after being heartily encourage by Napoleon Tagliaferro). These he published in various cultural and religious periodicals. Due to his beautiful poems lauding the Maltese language, he became known as il-poeta tal-kelma Maltija (the poet of the Maltese idiom). Nonetheless, in religious circles he also became known as il-poeta tal-Madonna (the poet of the Blessed Virgin).
government of Malta
. Nonetheless, his political commitment had a pronounced social edge. In 1921, when his political activity became more manifest, he was encouraged by a visit to Malta made by the Jesuit Charles Plater
to accept an invitation by the Unione Cattolica San Giuseppe (St. Joseph Catholic Workers’ Union) to become the first Director of a Study Club which had the intention of educating workers. This society was domesticated by the Catholic Church to keep workers away from socialist teachings and action. This was in harmony with Cuschieri’s conservative
politics.
After 1921 Cuschieri’s political engagements continued to grow gradually. The rise to power of Benito Mussolini
in Italy in 1922 made him, and many others in Malta
, look to fascism
with increasing fascination and appeal. Like many other Neo-Thomists
, Cuschieri saw great congruence between the Scholastics
’ philosophical position and the Italian philosophy of fascism. By time, Cuschieri became a overt and avowed Fascist, and this was recognised both in Malta and in Italy. In 1932, Cuschieri was elected to parliament
on behalf of the Fascist Nationalist Party
as a representative of university graduates. At the beginning of World War II
, in 1939, however, he was removed from the Chair of Philosophy, and kept him under house arrest for the duration of hostilities.
of the Aristotelico-Thomist type. Throughout his life, by training and by vocation, he was always part of the orthodox branch of this school. Though he was versed in the writings and doctrines of Thomas Aquinas
, he never harboured or cultivated a thoroughly speculative mind, even if he seems to have been quite capable of subtleties and abstruse distinctions. Nonetheless, his inclination tended more to the applicability of Thomistic and Scholastic
principles, especially to cater for his audiences in the pastoral fields.
In his own way, even ideologically, Cuschieri was somehow part of the Neo-Thomistic movement that grew after the wake of Pope Leo XIII
’s pontificate, who gave great impetus, mainly for political reasons, to the movement. All of this, however, ended with World War II
, up till which Thomist Scholastics carried on a sort of love-affair with fascism, and this suited Cuschieri very well.
. Nevertheless, when he grew older, he preferred to play billiards
, especially at the Civil Service Sports Club of which he was a member. Alternatively, he cherished frequenting friends, especially members of the Akkademja tal-Malti
(Academy of the Maltese Language), and discussing current affairs, literature and philosophy.
On August 15, 1959, Cuschieri suffered a grave setback in his health. He had become bed-bound at the Carmelite convent at Valletta
, and gradually grew paralised. His ailment and sufferings continued for three years. On July 17, 1962, he was administered the last rites
, and eight days later, on July 25, 1962, he gave up the spirit.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and minor philosopher. He held the Chair of Philosophy at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
(1901-39). In philosophy he was mostly interested in ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
.
Beginnings
Cuschieri was born at VallettaValletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, on January 27, 1876. He joined the Carmelite Order on April 25, 1891, at 19 years of age. That same year he began pursuing his institutional studies in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
. He made his religious profession on August 28, 1892. On completion of his university courses in 1898, Cuschieri was ordained a priest, and sent sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, to pursue studies in philosophy and theology at the Jesuits’ Gregorian Univeristy. In 1901 he became a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
and a Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
.
Chair of Philosophy
On his return to Malta in 1901, Cuschieri was immediately appointed Professor of Philosophy at the University of Malta. Here just a year later, in 1902, he was elevated to the Chair of Philosophy, an office he occupied for thirty years. During this time, while busy teaching philosophy at the university, as a gifted orator he was frequently called upon to address various gatherings, and he was particularly popular to deliver religious orations. Twice was he chosen as a provincial superior of the Maltese CarmelitesCarmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
(1906-10; 1913-16).
Poetry
Culturally, Cuschieri was utterly in love with the Italian language and the Latin culture. For many years he was one of the examiners of the Italian language and Italian literature. Many of his earliest poems were in Italian, and continued to write refined Italian poems all his life. A collection of these appeared in Oreste Tencajoli’s Poeti Maltesi d’Oggi (Rome, 1932). Nevertheless, Cuschieri also wrote perceptive poems in the Maltese languageMaltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
, especially from 1915 onwards (after being heartily encourage by Napoleon Tagliaferro). These he published in various cultural and religious periodicals. Due to his beautiful poems lauding the Maltese language, he became known as il-poeta tal-kelma Maltija (the poet of the Maltese idiom). Nonetheless, in religious circles he also became known as il-poeta tal-Madonna (the poet of the Blessed Virgin).
Politics
Cuschieri was also engaged in party politics. His early commitments were characterised by his love of the Latin culture, and, together with others, decided that Malta’s own culture should be defined in Latin, rather than in Anglo-Saxon, terms. This pitched him against the Protestant British colonialColonial
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony* Colonial history of the United States, the period of American history from the 17th century to 1776, under the rule of Great Britain, France and Spain...
government of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Nonetheless, his political commitment had a pronounced social edge. In 1921, when his political activity became more manifest, he was encouraged by a visit to Malta made by the Jesuit Charles Plater
Plater College
Plater College was an adult education establishment which was based in Headington, Oxford, England.- College history :The college was founded in 1922 by the Rev. Leo O'Hea, S.J...
to accept an invitation by the Unione Cattolica San Giuseppe (St. Joseph Catholic Workers’ Union) to become the first Director of a Study Club which had the intention of educating workers. This society was domesticated by the Catholic Church to keep workers away from socialist teachings and action. This was in harmony with Cuschieri’s conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
politics.
After 1921 Cuschieri’s political engagements continued to grow gradually. The rise to power of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
in Italy in 1922 made him, and many others in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, look to fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
with increasing fascination and appeal. Like many other Neo-Thomists
Neo-Scholasticism
Neo-Scholasticism is the revival and development of medieval scholastic philosophy starting from the second half of the 19th century. It has some times been called neo-Thomism partly because Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century gave to scholasticism a final form, partly because the idea gained ground...
, Cuschieri saw great congruence between the Scholastics
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
’ philosophical position and the Italian philosophy of fascism. By time, Cuschieri became a overt and avowed Fascist, and this was recognised both in Malta and in Italy. In 1932, Cuschieri was elected to parliament
Parliament of Malta
The Parliament of the Republic of Malta is the constitutional legislative body in Malta, located in Valletta...
on behalf of the Fascist Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Malta)
The Nationalist Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Fortunato Mizzi in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the British colonial authorities and measures to Anglicise the educational and the...
as a representative of university graduates. At the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1939, however, he was removed from the Chair of Philosophy, and kept him under house arrest for the duration of hostilities.
Philosophy
Cuschieri was an accomplished adherent of ScholasticismScholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
of the Aristotelico-Thomist type. Throughout his life, by training and by vocation, he was always part of the orthodox branch of this school. Though he was versed in the writings and doctrines of Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
, he never harboured or cultivated a thoroughly speculative mind, even if he seems to have been quite capable of subtleties and abstruse distinctions. Nonetheless, his inclination tended more to the applicability of Thomistic and Scholastic
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
principles, especially to cater for his audiences in the pastoral fields.
In his own way, even ideologically, Cuschieri was somehow part of the Neo-Thomistic movement that grew after the wake of Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
’s pontificate, who gave great impetus, mainly for political reasons, to the movement. All of this, however, ended with World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, up till which Thomist Scholastics carried on a sort of love-affair with fascism, and this suited Cuschieri very well.
Last years and death
After the fall of fascism and the end of the war, Cuschieri proceeded with his pastoral and academic. Throughout his life he loved sports, especially footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. Nevertheless, when he grew older, he preferred to play billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
, especially at the Civil Service Sports Club of which he was a member. Alternatively, he cherished frequenting friends, especially members of the Akkademja tal-Malti
Akkademja tal-Malti
Akkademja tal-Malti was the prime regulatory body responsible for the Maltese language from the early 20th century up to the end of the millennium, when a Government sponsored law was passed to protect issues related to the national language...
(Academy of the Maltese Language), and discussing current affairs, literature and philosophy.
On August 15, 1959, Cuschieri suffered a grave setback in his health. He had become bed-bound at the Carmelite convent at Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, and gradually grew paralised. His ailment and sufferings continued for three years. On July 17, 1962, he was administered the last rites
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
, and eight days later, on July 25, 1962, he gave up the spirit.
Works
Excluding his poetry (which does not interest us here), Cuschieri otherwise published very little in his lifetime. Nevertheless, a large number of manuscripts still exist. These were kept in his personal possession, and later passed on into the archive of the Carmelites at Valletta. Most of them were typed by Cuschieri himself, and sometimes annotated in his own hand. All are in Italian. The writings which contain philosophical content (that is, excluding the purely religious or devotional essays) are, namely, the following:Published
- 1905 – Di alcune proprietà del genio (On some properties of the intellect). An article in Italian published in Malta Letteraria discussing the ScholasticScholasticismScholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
properties and functions of human reasoning. - 1913-15 – Three articles in Italian published in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
’s Rivista di Filosofia Neo-Scolastica: - A proposito del problema criteriologico (Concering the criteriological problem).
- Il problema criteriologico o il problema ontologico (The criteriological problem or the ontological problem).
- A proposito di soluzioni e problemi (Concerning solutions and problems).
- The articles were composed in response, and opposition, to Benedetto CroceBenedetto CroceBenedetto Croce was an Italian idealist philosopher, and occasionally also politician. He wrote on numerous topics, including philosophy, history, methodology of history writing and aesthetics, and was a prominent liberal, although he opposed laissez-faire free trade...
’s idealismIdealismIn philosophy, idealism is the family of views which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility of knowing any mind-independent thing...
concerning the criteria of truthCriteria of truthIn epistemology, criteria of truth are standards and rules used to judge the accuracy of statements and claims. They are tools of verification. Understanding a philosophy's criteria of truth is fundamental to a clear evaluation of that philosophy. This necessity is driven by the varying, and...
(or ‘criteriology’, as the ScholasticsScholasticismScholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
used to call them). The compositions came under the scrutiny of ScholasticsScholasticismScholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
such as Angelo PirottaAngelo PirottaAngelo Pirotta, O.P. was a major Maltese philosopher. His areas of specialisation in philosophy were chiefly epistemology and metaphysics.-The Early Years:Pirotta was born at Naxxar, Malta, on December 27, 1894...
and other foreign Thomistic heavy-weights.- 1915 – In Morte di Napoleone Tagliaferro (On the Death of Napoleon Tagliaferro). A 16-page pamphlet in Italian published in MaltaMaltaMalta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
(Daily Malta Chronicle) which reproduces a talk Cuschieri delivered at the aula magna of the University of MaltaUniversity of MaltaThe University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
on November 4, 1915, in a ceremony commemorating the archaeologist, philologist, mathematicianMathematicianA mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, and writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Napoleon Tagliaferro who had recently passed away. Cuschieri focuses mainly on love of country. - 1919 – Per la Messa Novella di Goffredo Lubrano (For the Solemn Mass of Goffredo Lubrano). A 17-page pamphlet in Italian published in MaltaMaltaMalta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
(Scuola Tip. Salesiana, SliemaSliemaTas-Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing...
) which reproduces a talk which Cuschieri delivered at the SengleaSengleaSenglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. It is one of the Three Cities in the east of Malta, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa. The city of Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great...
parish church on September 21, 1919, during the first mass of the newly-ordained Doctor of LawDoctor of lawDoctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
, Goffredo Lubrano. Cuschieri’s talk was mainly about the importance of Christians’ commitment towards the poor and the oppressed.
- 1915 – In Morte di Napoleone Tagliaferro (On the Death of Napoleon Tagliaferro). A 16-page pamphlet in Italian published in Malta
Manuscripts
- Undated
- Cittadino del secolo vigesimo (Citizen of the 20th Century).
- Doveri dell’uomo (Duties of man).
- I benefici della scienza nei riguardi della maternità (The benefits of science in relation to maternity).
- Il cielo o la terra? (Heaven or earth?).
- Il concetto logico secondo S. Tommaso e Benedetto Croce (The logical concept according to St. Thomas Aquinas and Benedetto Croce).
- Il dogma dell’Immacolata (The dogma of the Immaculate Conception).
- Il dovere (Duty).
- Il proprio dovere (One’s proper duty).
- La conversione di un anima (The conversion of a soul).
- La lega (The league).
- La materia e lo sprito (Matter and spirit).
- La realtà della metafisica contro E. Kant (The reality of metaphysics according to E. Kant).
- La scelta delle lingue (The choice of languages).
- La storia e la lotta della vita (History and the toil of life).
- Le tentazioni (The temptations).
- Malta Cattolica (Catholic Malta).
- Massabielle (Massabielle).
- Pace, Pace (Peace, Peace).
- Panigirico del naufragio di S. Paolo (Oration for the shipwreck of St. Paul).
- Povera vita dell’uomo! (Poor life of Man!).
- Resistere e combattere (Resist and fight).
- Una parola d’amore (A word of love).
- Una vita felice (A happy life).
- Dated
- 1909 – Il dovere della prova (The duty of trying).
- 1910 – Dopo la laurea (After graduation).
- 1921 – Solenne incoronazione della Vergine detta volgarmente la Bambina (Solemn incoronation of the Blessed Virgin commonly called the Child).
- 1922 – Inaugurazione della lapide a Fortunato Mizzi (Inauguration of the plaque in honour of Fortunato Mizzi).
- 1927 – Inaugurazione della Terza Legislatura (Inauguration of the Third Legislature).
- 1932 – Inaugurazione del monumento a Fra Diego (Inauguration of the monument to Fra Diego).
Sources
- Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.
- Mark Montebello, 20th Century Philosophy in Malta, Agius & Agius, Malta, 2009.
- Mark Montebello, Malta’s Philosophy & Philosophers, PIN Publications, Malta, 2011.