Lorenzo Azzano
Lorenzo Azzano
I work in analytic metaphysics and philosophy of science.
More specifically, my research focuses on dispositional properties and other items in the (famously unruly) nomic family. I am particularly sensible to meta-ontological issues, especially the nature of the divide between "neo-Humeans" and "anti-Humeans" metaphysics, which I consider to be one of the deepest distinctions in how we conceive physical reality.
In my recent book Dispositional Reality, I offer the most ontologically lightweight, yet still metaphysically substantial, version of anti-Humean account of powers currently on the market.
I have also worked, and published on: laws of nature, modal ontology and semantics, non-causal explanation and metaphysical grounding, mereology, meta-ethics (especially virtue ethics), and, more recently, the interaction between powers, modality, and time. Part of my recent interest in meta-ontological matters revolves around the notion of metaphysical perspicuity, structure, and the relation between syntactic and metaphysical categories. I just love metaphysics!
My research has appeared in journals like Philosophical Studies, Synthese, and many more (see Publications for details).
In 2024 I received a postdoc grant within the PRIN project The Varieties of Grounding, in the unit of the Catholic University of Milan, coordinated by Professor Ciro De Florio. Before that, I was a Juan de la Cierva fellow, working in beautiful Santiago de Compostela as part of the Episteme research group. I still am an honorary member and try to participate to their activities whenever possible! Going back even further, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bergamo, and a Teaching Assistant at the Bocconi University of Milan. Earlier still, in October 2018, I received my PhD at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa.
Beyond philosophy, my other great love is science-fiction. My three favorite sci-fi novels are Stanisław Lem's His Master's Voice, Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed, and Olaf Stapledon's Last and First Men.
My ORCID number is 0000-0002-2523-5821.
In this site you fill find (information on) my published work, a sneak peek on what I'm currently working on, some additional information about present and past affiliations and projects, a preview of recent and upcoming talks, and finally, teaching material (occasionally with some downloadable material...).