“Eco-Anthropological Design” as a Philosophical Problem of Cosmism: A Key Address at the Plekhanov University Conference

On April 21, 2025, the Russian Economic University named after G.V. Plekhanov hosted the 5th Annual National Conference with international participation, titled “Space Exploration and the Challenges of Eco-Oriented Development of Humanity, Nature, and Multipolar Civilization.” The event brought together scholars, students, philosophers, engineers, ecologists, and members of the public committed to a humanistic and sustainable approach to humanity’s cosmic future.

One of the conference’s highlights was the keynote address by Sofia Ilyina, Head of the Legal Affairs Department of the Moscow Center for International Cooperation. Her presentation, “Eco-Anthropological Design as a Philosophical Problem of Cosmism,” resonated strongly with the audience and was recognized as a significant contribution to contemporary philosophical thought.

Sofia Ilyina addressed the formation of the ecologically responsible subject, emphasizing that the philosophy of cosmism—as a uniquely Russian worldview—can serve as a methodological foundation for rethinking the relationship between humanity, nature, technological civilization, and the cosmos. According to her, only through the integration of eco-philosophical and eco-anthropological principles can sustainable development be achieved in the context of space exploration, the rise of a multipolar civilization, and the resolution of key global and local transformations.

The conference was led by Dr. Eleonora Barkova, Professor of the Department of History and Philosophy at Plekhanov University. In her plenary lecture, “Space Exploration as the Joyful and Inspiring Activity of the Subject: On the Life-Creativity of A.A. Shternfeld,” she demonstrated the contemporary relevance of addressing the problems of the philosophy of cosmism and highlighted the abundance of inspiring discoveries awaiting us in this field of knowledge.

Participants of the conference included representatives from the Russian Cosmonautics Society, Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade named after Mikhail Tugan-Baranovsky, the Petrov Academy of Sciences and Arts, as well as the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other institutions. International participants from Vietnam, Moldova, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan also joined the event. The plenary and breakout sessions covered topics such as cosmic thinking, gamification of ecology, the role of AI in space exploration, cultural heritage within the context of cosmism, and the philosophy of sustainability.

The conference once again affirmed the enduring relevance of Russian cosmism as a worldview platform for the future of humanity and the need for an eco-oriented interdisciplinary approach to the pressing challenges of human existence, civilization, ecology, ethics, and technological progress.