The philosopher Gianni Vattimo died this evening: he was 87 years old and hospitalized in serious conditions at Rivoli hospital (Turin). The news was announced in a post on Facebook by Simone Caminada, 38 years old, assistant and partner of the philosopher for 14 years.
Vattimo was considered one of the greatest exponents of the "postmodern" current and theorist of the so-called "weak thought".
Son of a Turin seamstress and a Calabrian policeman, who died when he was not yet two years old, after his studies he embarked on an academic career.
Vattimo has played in various parties and was elected to the European Parliament in 2005 with the Italian Communists and in 2009 with Italia dei Valori. Among other things, he was a contributor to Italian and foreign newspapers and the author of cultural programs on Rai channels.
One of the most influential intellectuals of our era, he publicly declared his homosexuality and was a precursor of the LGBT battle. All this is compatible with his Christian faith because he has developed a concept of "secularized" Christianity, which does not need ecclesiastical institutions.
In 2003 Vattimo went through a terrible experience: Sergio Mamino, his partner for 11 years who had suffered from lung cancer, died in the bathroom of the plane that was taking him to the Netherlands to carry out euthanasia. Accompanying him on that flight was Vattimo himself.
The philosopher would have liked to have a civil union with his current partner Caminada, but the Turin Prosecutor's Office suspended the union pending the sentence: according to what was established by the Court of Turin, the philosopher's partner would have tried to obtain the inheritance, isolating the intellectual and taking control of his estate.
(Unioneonline/L)
