Nicola Polloni | 濮若一
I am Associate Professor of Medieval Philosophy at the University of Messina, where I study the metaphysical foundations of premodern thought and the development of natural philosophy from the twelfth to the seventeenth century. My research focuses on theories of matter and form, with particular attention to figures such as Dominicus Gundissalinus, Robert Grosseteste, and Roger Bacon, whose reflections on nature and knowledge reshaped the intellectual landscape of medieval Europe. More recently, my work has begun to explore possible resonances between scholastic metaphysics and Chinese philosophy, seeking new ways to understand how different traditions have conceptualised the structure of reality.
Much of my research is guided by a commitment to intellectual connection – bridging traditions, disciplines, and people. I believe that the history of philosophy is most vital when conceived as a living network of exchanges rather than a collection of isolated systems. Through initiatives such as Global Scholasticism and the Routledge series Global Perspectives on the History of Natural Philosophy, I work to bring together scholars from different regions and methodological backgrounds to rediscover the plurality and creativity of the philosophical past.
These collaborations aim not only to expand the geographical and cultural scope of medieval and early modern studies but also to demonstrate how those traditions can speak to some of the most urgent intellectual challenges of the present.
Teaching, for me, is an extension of this same vision. I see the classroom as a laboratory of ideas – a place where curiosity, rigour, and imagination meet. My goal is to help students develop a philosophical sensibility that unites critical precision with intellectual openness, encouraging them to think beyond conventions and to recognise philosophy as a transformative practice. I want my students to become not only interpreters of texts but active participants in a global conversation – individuals capable of rethinking the world with clarity, creativity, and courage.
©️Nicola Polloni | Latest update: April 2025
Potestas essendi 