Erasmo da Rotterdam e l’espressione dell’odio

When it comes to hate, the age of Erasmus of Rotterdam does not miss a thing. In its seas of hatred, as we shall see, Erasmus swims unwillingly, albeit without being frightened: but he feels a lingering distaste for it, and his stances on the possible forms to be used and the limits to be respected in the expression of hatred are in any case rare (unlike his calls for concord and moderation). The essay presents a minimal review of these forms and offers some suggestions as to where the boundary is set, by Erasmus, between a legitimate and, if not tame, at least measured polemic, or a literarily and morally acceptable use of contumelia, and an open, dangerous and felonious expression of hatred.