Emanuele COCO

Update: 09 2023

Bio

Emanuele Coco is Professor of History of Philosophy at the University of Catania. He is qualified – in Italy – as associate professor in the fields of History of Philosophy (11/C5) and Logic, History and Philosophy of Science (11/C2) and – in France – as maître de conférences for the sections Philosophie (17) and Epistémologie, histoire des sciences et des techniques (72). 

Former Marie Curie fellow at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris he is membre associé in the same institution (Laboratoire d'anthropologie des institutions et organisations sociales - LAIOS-IIAC, EHESS).

He has taught at the Universities of Florence and Lille. He now teaches at the courses of Education and Training Sciences (Bachelor's degree), Psychological Sciences and Techniques (Bachelor's degree) and Psychology (Master's degree) of the University of Catania. 

He is scientific responsible for the local research units of the Erasmus+ European projects "Task 21" and "BeYou".

Biologist and philosopher, he deals with the relationships between philosophy, science and the imaginary, with particular reference to life sciences, social behavior and the paradox of altruism in biology. More recently, his research has focused on the relationship between science, myths, nature, and cultural processes. His works have been focused on the myth of sirens and his naturalization. A subject that has been shown to be rich in cultural, anthropological, philosophical and psychological implications. 

He is a member of the Interuniversity Center for Epistemological and Historical Research on the Sciences of the Living (Res Viva) and is a member of the editorial board of the journal  “Logos” and “Suite française”. He is co-director of the Imaginalia series, published by Malcor D’.

Among his publications: Dal Cosmo al mare. La naturalizzazione del mito e la funzione filosofica [From Cosmo to the see. The naturalization of myth and the philosophical function], Olschki, 2017; "The natural limits of knowledge. History and perspectives of a dialogue between philosophy and biology" (with Coniglione and Vasta: Malcor D ’edizioni 2016); "The electric circus of the Sirens" (Code Editions 2012); "Selfish, wicked and generous. Natural history of altruism" (Bruno Mondadori publisher, 2009); 

He is author of essays and theatrical texts related to the themes of science, psyche and philosophy. Among them: Selfish, evil and generous. Natural history of altruism [Egoisti, malvagi e generosi. Storia naturale dell’altruismo, Bruno Mondadori; The electric circus of the Sirens [Il circo elettrico delle Sirene], Codice; From the cosmos to the sea. The naturalization of myth and philosophical function [Dal Cosmo al mare. La naturalizzazione del mito e la funzione filosofica], Olschki; The restless archipelago. A collection of interdisciplinary essays on evolutionism seen from the sea ['Larcipelago inquieto. Una collezione di saggi interdisciplinari sull'evoluzionismo visto dal mare], Bruno Mondadori; Tanz! musiconcert of philosophical inspiration [Tanz! musiconcerto di ispirazione filosofica] Scenario Pubblico; Practical advices for the disoriented evolutionists [Consigli pratici per evoluzionisti spaesati], show and double CD with the participation of Francesco Bearzatti, Leo Gullotta and Elio e le Storie Tese, Festival della Scienza di Genova.

His articles or excerpts from his works have been published in Micromega, Il Sole 24 Ore, L'Unità, Doppiozero and the magazine of the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani Altante. 

Projects

Principal investigator (PI) per l'unità italian the Italian team of the Erasmus+ project 2020-2-FR02-KA205-018041 TITLE: BeYou. Building Entrepreneurial mindset in YOUth for a sustainable society From 01/10/2020. Duration: 25 months

Principal investigator (PI) for the Italian team of the Erasmus+ project 2019-1-FR01-KA203063063 TITLE: Task21. EdTech and Ai for essential SKills in the 21st century From 01/10/2019 to 31/07/2022 Duration: 34 months

Principal investigator (PI) of the Marie Curie project PIEF-GA-2009-236567 TITLE: DNA and Society: From a History of the "Emotional Images of DNA“ to a Set of Multidisciplinary Actions for Disseminating Good Social Values in Europe École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris. From 01/10/2009 to 30/09/2011 Duration: 2 years

Partecipation in the FIR research project "Archetipi futuri. Forme, funzioni, significati e stili nella relazione tra Mythos e Logos". Università di Catania, 2017-2019

Participation in the research project MIRRORS - Monitoring Ideas Regarding Research Organizations and Reasons in Science (EU, 7th Frame program; SIS-2007-1.1.1; grant agreement 217796; duration: 24 months). From 01/01/2008 to 31/12/2009

Participation in the international research group "Darwinisme & Sciences Humaines et Sociales" - University of Lille 1 (Lab Genetique) and Ghent University (Department of Phylosophy and moral sciences). From 01/01/2013 to 07/04/2014

Fellowships 

2009-2011: Marie Curie Fellow (IEF) at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris.

2019: Professeur invité, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris.

2016: Chercheur invité, Centre de Recherches Historiques (CRH, EHESS) 

2015: Chercheur invité, Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques (IHPST), Paris

2008, 2007, 2006: Chercheur invité, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (FMSH), Paris 

2002, 2003: Volunteer researcher, British Library, Department of Manuscripts, London

2002, 2003: D.E.A. at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris