Abstract

Between the lines of an intriguing exchange of letters with his young friend Ernesto Rossi, Gaetano Salvemini acknowledged the working in his personality of two conflicting aspects, namely «the sentimental action» and «the critical mentality». Aim of the present article is to investigate the way in which Salvemini tried to reconcile the empiricist strain peculiar to his conception of historical profession and the ethically inspired idea of democracy which characterized his political engagement: in terms properly related to the language of Salvemini, the «science of Cattaneo» and the «apostolate of Mazzini».