Ragionando di istituzionalismo. Spunti a partire da John R. Searle / Thoughts around institutionalism starting from Searle’s point of view.

Abstract: Nowadays it’s necessary to deal about institutionalism due to the interest recently arosed in both the philosophical and legal fields. This essay aims to analyze the institutional phenomenon starting from Searle’s theory. The paper will problematize the head points of Searle’s statements trying to show some weaknesses inherent his theory. In particular the essay will analyze Searle’s Institutional facts and the Intentionality: the former will be compared to Cassirer’s cultural facts, the latter will be compared to Husserl’s intentionality. This effort attempts to observe how Searle’s theory, if explored in its complexity, turns out to be nomothetic, stratigraphic and so reductionist. These three critical issues prevent Searle from exhausting the institutional phenomenon. Furthermore, it becomes even more evident since Searle’s theory will be find as a “circular” theory, looping back on itself. Finally, the essay will land on a focus between Searle’s and Santi Romano’s institutional epistemology in order to disclose the main differences concerning the origin of the institutions and the contrast between the institution as datum (Searle) and the institution as a process (Romano). Key words: Institution; John R. Searle; Institutional facts; Intentionality; Nomothetic; Santi Romano