Studia Philosophica Estonica’s special issue on Russia-Ukraine war bridges the gap between academic and public discussion

In the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the academic peer-reviewed journal Studia Philosophica Estonica has launched a groundbreaking special public edition, “Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War”. It is the first issue of a philosophy journal to exclusively cover Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The renowned public intellectuals and distinguished scholars who contribute to this volume have written essays that combine rigorous academic analysis of the conflict with an accessible and engaging style. As a result, this special issue on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine offers insight that will resonate with professional academics and the general public alike. 

Not just another academic publication  

“Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War” contains contributions from some of the most influential public intellectuals writing today, including world-renowned author, Margaret Atwood, one of the most celebrated scholars of Ukrainian history, Timothy Snyder, two preeminent Oxford ethicists, Jeff McMahan and Jonathan Wolff, and three of Ukraine’s leading cultural critics, Mychailo Wynnyckyj, Volodymyr Yermolenko, and Irina Zherebkina. Taken together, these writers offer a clear and compelling examination of the defining issue of our time, by combining cutting-edge academic research with intimate personal experiences of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Aaron James Wendland, the Editor of this special issue and Vision Fellow in Public Philosophy at King’s College London, explains: “It is crucial to share academic analysis of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a wider audience and thus enhance the moral, cultural, and political understanding of concerned citizens across the globe who have been witnessing this conflict unfold.” All articles in this special issue are accessible to the public, which is rather innovative for a philosophy journal.

Essential reading for everyone  
 
This special issue of Studia Philosophica Estonica is distinguished by its astute yet accessible analysis of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Readers will delve into a variety of themes surrounding one of the most significant events of the 21st century, including the ethics of killing; fighting for freedom; the nature of nationalism; peace and propaganda; feminism and civic resistance; the use and abuse of history; cancelling Russian culture; authoritarianism and the problem of evil; utopias and dystopias; and the value of teaching philosophy in wartime Ukraine.  

To mark the publication of this special issue, the editorial board of Studia Philosophica Estonica organised a public lecture, entitled “Just War and the Ethics of Killing: An Analysis of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict”, by Prof. Jeff McMahan, Sekyra and White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford.  
This public lecture was held on Thursday, 5 September 2024, from 16:00–18:00, in White Hall at the University of Tartu Museum (Lossi 25, Tartu).  

Editor

“Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War” was edited by Aaron James Wendland, Vision Fellow in Public Philosophy, King’s College London. He has co-edited books on Wittgenstein and Heidegger and published numerous works of public philosophy.  

Studia Philosophica Estonica (SPE) is a peer-reviewed academic journal of philosophy, publishing scholarly articles in English, German, and Estonian. The journal encourages interdisciplinary contributions and submissions that use new approaches to elucidate the topic. SPE is indexed by EBSCO, ERIH PLUS and DOAJ.