Da una riflessione filologica su una questione d’identità a una riflessione sull’identità della filologia

This paper investigates four short notes by Sebastiano Timpanaro, concerning a textual problem in E. De Amicis’ “Primo Maggio”. Analysing the origins and the causes of a mistake (“Antonino” for “Anonimo”, i.e. the Anonimo Romano), Timpanaro not only re-establishes the correct identity of the Anonimo Romano in De Amicis’ work, but also offers broader reflections (extended in other texts and interviews) concerning the identity of philology and the philosophical and social value of the discipline.