Giovanni Gentile

Giovanni Gentile was an Italian philosopher and educator known for developing "actual idealism," a philosophical view that reality and consciousness are interconnected, emphasizing that human thought actively creates reality. He believed that the mind is always in a state of becoming and that individual consciousness shapes history and society. Gentile’s ideas influenced Italy’s fascist government by promoting the unity of state and culture, asserting that individuals find purpose through their contribution to the collective. His philosophy combines a focus on individual consciousness with a collective identity, making him a significant yet controversial figure in 20th-century intellectual history.