The article focuses on two major foundations due to the same scholar, Federigo Enriques (1871-1946), i.e. the Italian Philosophical Society (1905-) and the review Scientia (1907-1988). Through the series of the International Philosophical Congresses (open in Paris, 1900) a network of philosophers, mathematicians and other scientists comes to existence. The theme chosen for the fourth International Philosophical Congress \u2013 hosted by Enriques in Bologna in 1911 - is \u201cthe problem of reality\u201d, as particularly capable of attracting different philosophical traditions and schools. Two talks are considered and reported: those by Enriques himself and by Agostino Gemelli, future founder of the Catholic University in Milan. The article ...