The project was conceived around 4 main areas of research:
1: Medieval theories of modalities up to the early 14th century
The starting point of the research has been collecting textual evidence and analyzing the medieval theories of modalities advanced in the 12th, 13th and 14th century, especially in the Parisian and Oxonian contexts. This was necessary to see the Calculators' modal theories in a wider historical context. This research led to the publication of 5 scientific publications and the participation to 6 international conferences. Moreover, the research on medieval theories of modalities led to the organization of the international conference on “Late Medieval Logic and Modalities”, held in Parma in October 2022.
2: Medieval ways of reasoning with the impossible
One important line of research concerned the logic and metaphysics of impossibility in 13th- and 14th-century logical texts. The main authors examined have been the first and second generation of the Oxford Calculators and their 13th-14th century background. Historical theories of impossibilities have been seen in connection to contemporary views on the logic and epistemology of the impossible, especially with respect to the issues of counterpossible conditionals and the relation between imaginability/conceivability of the impossible. On the topic of the logic of impossibility, several scientific events were organized, among which (1) the seminar series “It’s Impossible! Historical and Philosophical Perspectives on the Logic and Epistemology of Modalities”, and (2) the international workshop “Beyond Impossible. Logical and Philosophical Perspectives”, co-organized in collaboration with M. Carrara and B. Jespersen (Padova, October 2021).
Another important result connected to this area of research has been the organization of a joint-course co-taught in collaboration with Peter King (Toronto), devoted to medieval theories of impossibility.
3: The Oxford Calculators and modal theories
During the 3 years of project, the researcher undertook the study of some of the main logical texts of the Oxford Calculators, connecting the theories advanced in them with the logical developments and modal developments of the previous centuries. This research resulted in 2 scientific publications: the journal article: "Medieval theories on the conceivability of the impossible: A survey of impossible positio in ars obligatioria during the 13th–14th centuries” (Noctua, 2022) and the special issue "Logic and Modalities in the Late Middle Ages. The Tradition of the Calculators” (Noctua, 2022). Another result was the organization of an online seminar course on the topic of the Calculators and their philosophical tradition. This seminar series, organized in collaboration with Dr S. Roudaut (Stockholm), included 6 meetings dedicated to different aspects of the Calculators’ work (their logic, natural philosophy, ethics, theology, their predecessors and successors).
4: Imagination and Thought Experiments
A fourth line of research focused on theories and uses of thought experiments in Late Medieval and Early Modern philosophy. In particular, the role of thought experiments in Galileo Galilei’s works and his relation with Late Medieval example of secundum imaginationem reasoning have been studied. This topic has been seen in connection to contemporary debates on thought experiments and imagination.
With some colleagues of the University of Parma, we established the research group “Prisma” (“Parma research group on imagination in sciences, mind and the arts”) now officially recognized by the Department. The group organized many scientific and outreach activities, among which the international conference “Imagination and its constraints” and an outreach presentation for the European Night of Research 2021. Together with W. Huemer and D. Molinari, the researcher has also completed 2 outreach publications on the project’s topics and one scientific publication, currently under review.
