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Linguistics & Philosophy IUSS Center - L&PIC

The research promoted by L&PIC is characterized by a theoretical and formal imprint, and yet it is always embedded in a multidisciplinary horizon open to empirical advancements in neuropsychology and neurobiology. L&PIC assumes that scientific progress in its areas is not just fostered by, but positively requires, the cooperation between the Humanities and the empirical sciences. Hence, in addition to the NeTS Laboratory, carrying out empirical investigations  in the field of linguistics, L&PIC will cooperate closely with other Centers and Laboratories of the School, starting with the ICON Center and the associated laboratories.

The activities of the Center are an essential and defining part of several Identity Themes  outlined in the "Identity and Development Plan 2020" of the IUSS School, in particular Theme 1 (Mind - Body - Languages) and Theme 3 (Complexity - Thought - Explanation). The Center also intends to be open to active citizenship, promoting the dissemination of knowledge through Third Mission actions and, more generally, public engagement. 

To request information about the Linguistics & Philosophy IUSS Center, please direct your correspondence to the Director of the Centre, Prof. Michele Di Francesco, michele.difrancesco@iusspavia.it or to Dr. Marco Fasoli, marco.fasoli@iusspavia.it.

RESEARCH ON LINGUISTICS 

  • Computation, recursion and complexity
  • Theory of Movement (Genearlized Dynamic Antisymmetry)
  • Clause structure (expletives, copular inversion, raising and unaccusativity)
  • Syntax-semantics interface (focus, vocative, definiteness effect)
  • Directionality (Top-Down, Left-Right) of phrase structure building
  • Simplicity and acquisitional issues.
  • Theoretical and experimental pragmatics
  • Models of figurative language processing

MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON NEUROLINGUISTICS 

  • Neurobiological foundations of syntax
  • Possible vs. impossible languages
  • Neuropragmatics and neural basis of figurative language
  • Negation in the brain
  • The quest for the electrophysiological correlates of syntax 

RESEARCH ON PHILOSOPHY OF MIND AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE

  • Consciousness, intentionality and subjectivity
  • The Extended and the Embodied Mind 
  • Philosophy of affectivity
  • Neuroethics and Philosophy of neuroscience
  • Philosophy of technology and the impact of technology on society
  • Metaphysics and Mind

RESEARCH ON PHILOSOPHY OF MATHEMATICS AND LOGIC

  • Philosophy of Mathematics
  • Philosophy of Logic
  • Epistemology
  • Philosophical Methodology
  • Theories of Meaning and semantics of Formal Languages
  • Philosophical Logic and Formal/Informal Reasoning


Ongoing projects:

  • The Philosophy of Mind / The human consciousness project – M. Di Francesco
  • The Mark of the mental (PRIN 2017 – local coordinator M. Di Francesco) 
  • The IUSS Reputation Lab (work in progress) 
  • eMath Project (Epistemology of Mathematics and Logic) – A. Sereni  
  • SynSym: exploring the notion of symmetry – breaking phenomena in linguistics (in collaboration with the University of Cambridge)

@ The IUSS NeTS Lab: 

  • Experimental Pragmatics – V. Bambini 
  • “Assessment and treatment of communicative pragmatic abilities in neurological and psychiatric disorders: feasibility and clinical efficacy” (Ricerca Finalizzata Giovani Ricercatori 2018, Ministero della Salute) – V. Bambini
  • A Processing-friendly Grammatical Model for Parsing and predicting on-line Complexity – C. Chesi 
  • COnVERSA (Test di Comprensione delle Opposizioni morfo-sintattiche VERbali attraverso la ScritturA), assessment of non-standard speech in deaf and L2 population – C. Chesi

Director:
Michele Di Francesco, professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University School IUSS

Full Members:

  • Valentina Bambini
  • Luca Bischetti
  • Paolo Canal 
  • Stefano Cappa
  • Cristiano Chesi 
  • Silvia De Toffoli
  • Matteo Greco
  • Mirza Memhedovic
  • Andrea Moro
  • Giulia Piredda
  • Marco Fasoli
  • Andrea Sereni
  • Maria Paola Sforza Fogliani 
  • Alfredo Tomasetta
  • Luca Zanetti

Current and Former Ph.D. Students Members:

  • Matteo Baggio
  • Arianna Beghetto
  • Silvia Bianchi
  • Bruno Cortesi
  • Marco Facchin
  • Federico Frau
  • Mohammad Maarefi
  • Davide Mocci
  • Elisabetta Tonini
  • Giacomo Zanotti