Acknowledgments
This book emerged from countless conversations and encounters that have shaped both its arguments and my thinking during my Ph.D. and postdoctoral period at the University of Padua. I have many people to thank for its existence.
First and foremost, I am deeply grateful to Professor Antonio Da Re, who supervised my dissertation and guided me through the preparation of this book with continuous support and invaluable advice. I also owe an enormous debt to my colleagues in the Ethics Research Group at the fisppa Department – Professor Francesca Marin, Professor Simone Grigoletto, and Professor Federico Zilio – who have generously shared their expertise and wisdom throughout this journey, patiently answering my many questions and encouraging me at every step.
This book would not have been possible without Professor Elisa Magrì, who not only welcomed me to Boston College – an experience that profoundly shaped both my career and, perhaps more importantly, my character – but also taught me much of what I know about Edith Stein and the phenomenological method. Any errors are, of course, entirely my own. I am equally grateful to the philosophical community at Boston College, particularly Professor Dermot Moran, Professor Andrew Barnett, Professor Gregory Fried, and Professor Giovanni Pietro Basile, who provided invaluable feedback on my work, especially regarding the phenomenological approach to intersubjectivity.
I am also indebted to Professor Andrea Staiti, Professor Andrea Altobrando, Professor Anna Donise, and Professor Søren Overgaard, who generously dedicated their time to commenting on and improving this work at different stages of its development. My thanks extend to the anonymous reviewers who challenged me to clarify and refine the arguments presented here, as well as to all the researchers and scholars who posed questions and shared their insights at the numerous conferences and workshops where I have presented this work.
I am deeply grateful to my parents, Vinicio and Stefania, who have always given me the space and freedom to become who I wanted to be, while celebrating every small achievement along the way, and to my grandmothers, Franca and Ines, each of whom taught me, in her own way, never to be afraid to speak my mind – a lesson I carry with me every day. Finally, my most profound gratitude goes to Edoardo, whose unwavering faith in me has sustained me through every challenge and who believes in me even when I doubt myself.
To them, my family, I dedicate this book.