As part of the interdisciplinary initiatives promoted by the Global Research Centre for Diverse Intelligences (GRCDI), Filippo Aureli, Amalia Bastos, and Giuseppe Lorini organized the workshop “Normative Intelligence” at the Department of Law of the University of Cagliari from 24 to 26 June 2026. The workshop was devoted to examining the idea of normative intelligence from a range of conceptual and empirical perspectives. Bringing together researchers from philosophy, law, psychology, neuroscience, comparative cognition, ethology, and economics, the workshop provided a shared space for discussing normative intelligence across disciplinary boundaries.
The workshop programme combined plenary sessions with small-group discussions, encouraging exchange between theoretical and empirically oriented approaches. Workshop participants examined questions concerning how individuals act in light of norms and how norms may be produced, perceived, and communicated. Particular attention was given to the relationship between normative intelligence and other forms of intelligence, with the aim of identifying what is distinctive about normative intelligence. Discussion also addressed the methodological challenges involved in extending this research to non-human animals. The workshop helped refine a developing conceptual framework, test it against perspectives from different fields, and identify questions for future theoretical and empirical work, while fostering new collaborations.
The workshop organizers are grateful to the GRCDI for providing funds for the workshop and to all participants for their contributions, engagement, and openness throughout the event. Special thanks go to Olimpia Loddo and Andrea Loi for local coordination and logistical support.