9. || Karl Cicognani Cappelli || 1827–29 |- | 10. || Joseph Fenech || 1829–43 |- | 11. || Vincent Paul Galea || 1843–59 |- | 12. || George Caruana || 1859–72 |- | 13. || Nicholas Crescimanno || 1872–76 |- | 14. || Nicholas Zammit || 1876–90 |- | 15. || Francis Bonnici || 1890–1900 |- | 16. || Anastasio Cuschieri || 1901–39 |- | 17. || Saviour Grima || 1939–49 |- | || Joseph Sapiano (acting) || 1950–51 |- | || Joseph Lupi (acting) || 1951–53 |- | 18. || Joseph Sapiano || 1953–71 |- | 19. || Peter Serracino Inglott || 1971–78 |- | || Dom Mintoff suspended the chair. || 1978–87 |- | 20. || Peter Serracino Inglott || 1987–96 |- | 21. || Joe Friggieri || 1996–2012 |- | 22. || Claude Mangion || 2012–19 |- | 23. || Jean-Paul De Lucca || 2019– |} Growing awareness Research Since the 1990s there has been an effort to aptly recognise and duly honour the modest share of philosophy in Malta. The necessity arose for two main reasons. One, because the Maltese themselves, mostly due to a dearth of required research, did not acknowledge, much less appreciate, any local philosophical tradition; and, secondly, because any activity that was being carried out in the philosophical field—whether it was teaching, writing or simply discussing—was done as if the Maltese themselves had, at most, a present without a past. Archival work revealed names and manuscripts and personalities, text-books were published (1995; 2001) and courses were read at the University of Malta (1996/97; 2012/13; 2013/14) and at other institutions of higher education. A first public conference on ‘Maltese’ philosophy was also organised (1996). A further step was taken by the establishment of Philosophy Sharing Foundation (2012). Appreciation Since the 16th century, philosophy has contributed to the academic and, sometimes, the intellectual and cultural life of Maltese intelligentsia. In most cases it functioned as a tool of the establishment—including the Catholic Church―to conserve and perpetuate orthodox and official doctrines. In other cases it offered alternative and imaginative routes of thinking. Despite its relatively long philosophical tradition, however, Malta has no particular philosophy associated to its name. Though sometimes innovative and creative, in their large majority Maltese philosophers have always worked with imported ideas and, but for very rare cases (like in the case of Manuel Dimech), seldom did break new ground in