Aivaras Stepukonis

Aivaras Stepukonis is a Senior Research Fellow at the Lithuanian Institute of Culture Research with a Doctor of Humanities in Philosophy. His academic career spans multiple institutions across Lithuania, the United States, and Europe, with a focus on philosophical research in epistemology, hermeneutics, and the sociology of knowledge.

Dr. Stepukonis holds a diverse academic background including:

• Doctor of Humanities (Philosophy) from the Institute for Cultural, Philosophical, and Art Studies in Vilnius (2005)
• MA in Philosophy from the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein (1997)
• BA in Philosophy and Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville (1995)
• BM in Clarinet Performance from Juozas Gruodis' Conservatory in Kaunas (1991)

His research interests focus on epistemology, hermeneutics, sociology of knowledge, comparative philosophy, comparative historiography of ideas, and global studies. Dr. Stepukonis has made significant contributions to understanding Max Scheler's philosophy, the sociology of knowledge, and East-West comparative philosophical studies. His work often explores the intersections between philosophical traditions, cultural identities, and global intellectual movements, examining how knowledge systems interact across cultural boundaries and historical periods.

Dr. Stepukonis has published over 80 scholarly and popular articles, authored the monograph 'The Problem of Enslaved Thinking: Max Scheler and the Origins of the Sociology of Knowledge' (2005), and edited several important volumes including 'National Minorities in Lithuania: Transformations and Memories' (2014), 'Searching for the Nation: Between Ontology and Ideology' (2016), and 'Nation, Culture, Identity: On Creative and Destructive Diversities' (2018). His recent publications (2018-2022) demonstrate continued engagement with classical philosophy, contemporary intellectual culture, and global studies, revealing an evolving scholarly trajectory that bridges historical and contemporary philosophical concerns.

His notable achievements include research fellowships at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna (2004) and the University of Hawaii (2007). Since 2015, he has served as the general editor of @etis, an e-platform for disseminating scientific knowledge. His scholarly work reflects a deep engagement with philosophical traditions from antiquity to contemporary thought, making significant contributions to understanding the global dimensions of philosophical inquiry and the complex interplay between cultural identities and intellectual traditions.