Vanja Subotić works as a research associate at the University of Belgrade, where she also earned her PhD in Philosophy in 2023. She was a researcher fellow at the University of Turin, Italy, and visiting teaching staff at the University of Rijeka, Croatia. Vanja specializes in philosophy of science, philosophy of mind & cognition, and philosophy of language. She is passionate about science communication and public outreach and believes that everyone in academia has a moral and epistemic responsibility to leave the ivory tower now and then.
Education
PhD Philosophy — University of Belgrade, 2023
MA Philosophy, MSc in Computational Methods in Social Sciences and Humanities — University of Belgrade, 2021, 2018
BA Philosophy — University of Belgrade, 2017
Areas of Expertise
The 5 Most Influential Books on Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a fundamental discipline where philosophers ask if your couch is really a couch, and whether you exist at all while reading this article.
The 5 Most Influential Books on Ethics
Ethics may strike you as the art of arguing whether to save a puppy or a philosopher from a burning building (spoiler: not even philosophers are sure what the right answer is here).
The 5 Most Influential Books on Political Philosophy
From ancient Athens to the birth of anti-colonialism, the ideas of political philosophy form the backbone of every law, revolt, and awkward family-dinner debate.
5 Key Works in the Philosophy of Mind You Should Know
Philosophy of mind asks questions that resonate with all of us: What is consciousness? How do our thoughts and feelings connect to our bodies? Could a machine ever think or feel?
5 Key Works in Philosophy of Science You Should Read
Forget lab coats and test tubes! Philosophy of science asks dangerous questions: What makes a theory scientific? Can we ever prove anything?
Why Dr. Johnson Kicked a Stone After Hearing Berkeley’s Argument
After hearing about George Berkeley’s philosophical position, Dr. Johnson’s response was to kick a stone as hard as he could.
5 Key Works in Epistemology That Answer How We Know What We Know
Epistemology, the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature, sources, and limits of knowledge, is one of the most foundational areas of philosophical inquiry.
What Is 4E Cognition? The Theory That Will Change the Way You Think of Your Own Mind
4E cognition takes a holistic view of cognition, as shaped by our body and environment, in opposition to the traditional view of the mind as closed off and decompositional.
The Key Ideas of the Mimamsa School of Classical Indian Philosophy
In the constellation of Indian philosophy, Mīmāṃsā is the quiet star that holds the sky together. Focused on the meaning of Hindu rituals, it brought the authority of testimony to the forefront.
The Vedanta School of Philosophy That Sought to Break the Cycle of Birth, Death, and Rebirth
Vedānta transformed the ancient Vedas into a rigorous metaphysical project. Its central debate is centered on non-dualism and theism.
The Yoga School of Philosophy That Sought Liberation From Suffering
Yoga was not primarily about flexibility or relaxation. It was a systematic school of thought, codified by the sage Patañjali, that sought liberation from suffering.
The Oddly Modern Philosophy of Vaisesika, One of Classical Indian Philosophy’s Schools
Step aside, Democritus and particle physicists. Vaiśeṣika, a Classical Indian philosophical system, explained the world in terms of atoms more than two millennia ago.