The Institute of Philosophy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences has published the December issue of the Philosophy News newsletter (December 2025), which summarizes the key scientific activities of the department in 2025 – from research topics (ethics and responsibility in AI, environmental philosophy, human rights) to conferences, new publications and awards.
Release Key Notes
The newsletter continues the long-standing tradition of informing about the activities of the department and at the same time commemorates the upcoming 80th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Philosophy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in 2026, for which a historical anthology and conference are being prepared.
Thematic focus
In the introductory text, director Richard Stahel emphasizes the importance of philosophy for a modern democratic society – especially its role in developing critical thinking, the ability to verify truthful claims and resist disinformation and manipulative content in the public space. At the same time, it points to the research directions of the institute, including the ethics of artificial intelligence, reflection on the anthropocene and issues of constitutional democracy, civil society and human rights.
Selected most important ideas and contributions in the issue
- Liability in the context of artificial intelligence: An interview with Daniela Vacek from the Department of Analytical Philosophy introduces philosophical and interdisciplinary approaches to responsibility for the impacts of AI, including a discussion on “vicarious” responsibility, collective responsibility and refining the concept of “responsible AI” through the lens of role responsibility. The newsletter also mentions the ESET Science Award 2025 for Daniela Vacek.
- Authenticity, tradition and symbolic structures: Our colleague Peter Šajd (Department of Social Philosophy and Philosophical Anthropology) introduced the new APVV project “Symbolic Structures in the Tension between Authenticity and Tradition” (solution until 2029), which examines the tensions between innovations and traditions and their manifestations in symbolic structures (e.g. science, art, religion or socio-political reflection).
- Philosophy in Anthropocene: The newsletter informs about the international conference Navigating the Anthropocene: New Frontiers in Environmental and Political Philosophy (24–25 September 2025, Bratislava Castle), which created a space for interdisciplinary reflection on the interconnectedness of human and natural systems and the consequences of anthropogenic changes on society, politics, values and the long-term future. The information is complemented by an interview with our scientist Katarína Podušelová (Department of Environmental Philosophy).
- Constitutional changes and autonomy in relation to human rights: A conference dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Conference (April 24, 2025) is presented, with an emphasis on the analysis of constitutional changes in the Slovak Republic and their impact on individual autonomy and the system of human rights protection, including a discussion on the relationship between state sovereignty and international obligations. The event was presented in the bulletin, as well as the work of the Department of Normativity and Human Rights Research, by our scientist Jakub Švec.
Research outputs, awards and events of the year
The issue also includes an overview of book publications published in 2025 and information on awards and professional achievements of employees (including SAV awards, Matej Bel Award and ESET Science Award), as well as reports on selected events – for example on the strengthening of interdisciplinary research, defense of scientific qualifications, academic events or the launch of a new website constitution.
Final factual data
- Release date: December 2025
- Place of publication: Institute of Philosophy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Klemensova 19, 811 09 Bratislava
- Organizer/publisher: Institute of Philosophy SAS
- Contact: sekretariat.fiu@savba.sk, tel. +421 2 5292 1215
