The Milanesiana del diritto explores ‘Desire and the Law’

Milan once again becomes a hub for thought and debate with three consecutive events as part of La Milanesiana, the festival conceived and directed by Elisabetta Sgarbi, now in its 27th year. From Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 June, the Intesa Sanpaolo Conference Hall in Piazza Belgioioso will host, at 12 noon each day, a series of talks dedicated to the major themes of philosophy and law, featuring a line-up of leading figures from the Italian and international cultural scene.

The three events, organised in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo and offering free admission upon booking, form part of the overarching theme of the 2026 edition, ‘Desire and the Law’, a reflection on the tensions and connections between individual impulse and collective norms, between freedom and responsibility.

The series opens today, 15 June, with an event entitled ‘Desires’, which addresses the theoretical core of the programme. The programme consists of a prologue, ‘Law and Desire’, delivered by lawyer Franco Toffoletto, a leading figure in international labour law, followed by a keynote lecture by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Vittorio Lingiardi, entitled “Let go of the thorn, pluck the rose”.

Lingiardi, a lecturer at Sapienza University of Rome and the author of numerous essays translated into several languages, offers an analysis of desire as a psychological and cultural force, capable of transcending normative boundaries whilst at the same time being shaped by them. This exploration marks the beginning of a wide-ranging reflection in which law and subjectivity engage in dialogue, challenging the boundaries between obligation and freedom.

The second event, scheduled for 16 June, shifts the focus to the present and the future with the session ‘The Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence’. The discussion will feature Massimo Cacciari, who has been editing the section on law since this year, alongside Alessandro Aresu, Gabriele Giacomini and Paolo Perulli.