Perfectibility as Demagoguery in Francescantonio Grimaldi’s Political Philosophy

This paper examines the political thought of Francescantonio Grimaldi (1741–1784), an exponent of the Italian Enlightenment, through his major work Riflessioni sopra l’ineguaglianza degli uomini (1779–1780). It focuses on his critique of utopian accounts of perfectibility and abstract rationality, interpreting them through the lens of rhetoric and demagoguery. Central to this analysis is Grimaldi’s epistemological framework, rooted in Newtonian empiricism and shaped by his engagement with philosophy of his times. This framework underpins his rejection of metaphysical speculation in favor of empirical observation, particularly in ethical and political matters. The paper argues that in Grimaldi’s view, abstract conceptions of perfectibility, when detached from empirical grounding, can be seen as fostering unrealistic and destabilizing visions of human nature that may lead to demagogic narratives. By highlighting these concerns, the study situates Grimaldi as a conservative Enlightenment thinker who offers a cautionary perspective on political consequences of false assumptions about human nature.