Abstract

Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374): Expression and Expressivity as Mode of Being. This paper investigates the subject of expression and linguistic expressivity of the ‘self-expressing I’ by Petrarca. Leibniz’ concept of expression - taken as the spontaneous activity of substantial unities - will function here as a hermeneutical starting point, although the idea of a soul conducting its specific activities solely by following its own nature or substantial unity can be already found by Petrarca. This is especially clear within the realm of language, as it carries out the synthesis of the fields of the private and the public. For language makes possible the expression of the reflecting and experiencing self’s inner life, as well as it enables the latter to cross the boundaries of inner intimacy in order to express itself before the public.