Argutezza. Argutezza, concetto, ingegno: una costellazione secentesca

The essay attempts an embryonic history of the words (and ideas) of wit, ingenuity and concept. The starting point is the dialogue Del concetto poetico, in which begins the autonomy of the poetic concept and the consequent growing differentiation between intellect and ingenuity (‘ingegno’). Sarbiewski (1627) is the first to propose the theoretical concepts of acutum and argutum as characteristics of the new poetry, with a preference for the former. Peregrini, in Delle acutezze (1639), introduces in acuity (‘acutezza’) the «enthymematic bond» between words and things, which is the result of ingenuity, but aimed at delight. Tesauro, in the Cannocchiale Aristotelico (1654), chooses the term ‘wit’ (‘argutezza’) for its etymological connection with argument (argumentum); he underlines its reasoning substance and classifies it as the product of the third operation of the intellect (the syllogism). This includes ingenuity, which constitutes a «marvelous strength» that combines insight and versatility, both essential for the production of metaphors. Tesauro's treatise aims to blend reasoning and intuition, intellect and ingenuity, truth and beauty in wit.