Elisa Freschi

Elisa Freschi is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Philosophy and IHPST, University of Toronto. Her work bridges Sanskrit philosophical traditions with contemporary philosophical discourse, advocating for the integration of Indian thinkers into the broader 'History of Philosophy' rather than segregated 'Indian Philosophy' categories.

• Specializes in Mīmāṃsā and Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta
• Core research areas: Epistemology of Testimony, Deontic Logic, Philosophy of Language, and Textual Reuse in Sanskrit cosmopolis

She leads collaborative projects involving critical editions, translations, and digital humanities approaches to South Asian texts. Her WWTF-funded research reconstructs historical Sanskrit philosophical debates. Major publications include:

• Monograph: Duty, Language and Exegesis in Prābhākara Mīmāṃsā (Brill, 2012)
• Co-edited volume: Rule-Extension-Strategies in Ancient India (2013)
• 2025 article on Mīmāṃsā Deontic Logic formalizing 'better-not' permissions
• 2016 Routledge publication analyzing subjectivity through desire in Prābhākara thought

Her work challenges physicalist interpretations of the self while exploring how Sanskrit theories of action might inform modern philosophy. She coordinates international conferences and edited The Study of Asia between Antiquity and Modernity (2011), advocating for interdisciplinary team-based analysis of Indian linguistic texts.