John Formosa
Encyclopedia
John Formosa was a Maltese theologian, canonist, minor philosopher, and poet
. In philosophy he mostly specialised in metaphysics
.
, Malta
, on March 22, 1869. He studied at the University of Malta
and at other universities abroad. These studies made him Doctor of Theology
and Doctor of Canon Law
. He was ordained a priest in 1893. He was also a Canon of the bishop
’s Cathedral Chapter at Mdina
. He died on March 29, 1941, at 72 years of age.
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...
. In philosophy he mostly specialised in metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
.
Life
Formosa was born in CospicuaCospicua
Ċittà Cottonera, Ċittà Cospicua, Cospicua is a double-fortified harbour city on the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is the largest of the Three Cities. It was also given a title as Citta' Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region...
, 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 March 22, 1869. He studied 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...
and at other universities abroad. These studies made him Doctor of 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...
and Doctor of Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
. He was ordained a priest in 1893. He was also a Canon of the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
’s Cathedral Chapter at Mdina
Mdina
Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
. He died on March 29, 1941, at 72 years of age.
Works
Though the writings and publications of Formosa are numerous, most of them are of no interest to philosophy since they are of a theological, devotional or religious nature. Some speculative writings, however, have philosophical value, namely the following:- 1913 – La Rivelazione e l’Uomo (Revelation and Man). A 20-page booklet 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...
(Tipografia del ‘Malta Herald’) which reproduces a speech which Formosa delivered in the church 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...
in VallettaVallettaValletta 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...
at the commencement of the academic year 1913/14. The work discusses man’s nature from the point of views of his intellectual, ecstatic and moral faculties. Formosa maintains that the objective of every school is the development and perfection of these faculties.
- 1917 – Trattato dei Fondamenti della Religione (A Study on the Foundations of Religion). A 876-page volume 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...
(Tipografia Giovanni Muscat) in which Formosa maintains, on the one hand, that revelationRevelationIn religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing, through active or passive communication with a supernatural or a divine entity...
is the foundation for the universality of the CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
religion, and, on the other, that the Catholic Church, as a divine and human institution, encompasses all wisdom and every kind of art and science. This quantitively impressive publication, is basically an apologetic composition. Formosa proffers many philosophical arguments to sustain his positions.
- 1921 – Formazione del Carattere della Gioventù Studiosa (The Character Formation of Young Students). A 27-page book 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...
(Tipografia ‘Empire Press’, FlorianaFlorianaFloriana is a town in Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. Floriana is the birthplace of many famous Maltese, amongst which the composer of the national anthem, 'L-Innu Malti', Robert Samut; former Bishop of Malta Dom Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri, and Swedish Idol winner...
) which reproduces a speech delivered by Formosa on January 21, 1921, 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...
. It is dedicated to Pope Benedict XVPope Benedict XVPope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
. The nature of the work can be surmised from the book’s opening words: ‘In the sad times through which we pass, when socialist concepts – doctrines so dangerous and subversive – snake everywhere and create confusion in the intellectual and moral worlds as well as disorder amongst human societies ...’ Continuing in this style, Formosa basically upholds two major concepts: that GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
is the sufficient reason for the existence of all scienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, and that metaphysicsMetaphysicsMetaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
is the first and ultimate science of man. Formosa provides philosophical arguments to sustain his theories.
- 1923 – San Tommaso d’Aquino: Sole di Verità e Oracolo della Theologia (Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Sun of Truth and the Excellence of Theology). A 14-page booklet 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...
(Tipografia di Giovanni Muscat, VallettaVallettaValletta 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...
) which reproduces a talk given by Formosa on November 16, 1923, 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...
. The work is dedicated to theology students, and is laudatory composition for Thomas AquinasThomas AquinasThomas 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...
.
Sources
- Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.
- Michael Schiavone, Dictionary of Maltese Biographies, Vol. I, PIN Publications, Malta, 2009.