Tõnu Viik
Rector
Distinguished Professor of Philosophy
CURRICULUM VITAE
Born on July 12, 1968 in Jõhvi, Estonia.
Education
1998–2003 Emory University, Atlanta PhD (2003)
2001–2002 Humboldt Universität Berlin (Emory scholar)
2000–2001 Philipps Universität Marburg (Emory scholar)
1997–1998 University of Helsinki (SIMO scholar)
1986–1993 Moscow State University (diploma studies 5 years) Diploma (1993)
1978–1986 Nõmme Gymnasium
1975–1978 Jõhvi Gymnasium
Career
2021 - Tallinn University Rector
2020–... Tallinn University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy
2015–2020 Tallinn University School of Humanities Director
2014–2015 Tallinn University Estonian Institute of Humanities Director
2007–2015 Tallinn University Estonian Institute of Humanities Professor of Philosophy
2004–2007 Estonian Institute of Humanities Rector
2003–2004 Estonian Institute of Humanities Professor of Philosophy
2002–2003 Lecturer – Emory University (Atlanta)
1999–2000 Study Assistent – Emory University (Atlanta)
1994–1998 Lecturer at the Estonian Institute of Humanities
1993–1994 Lecturer at the Tallinn University of Technology
Main research and teaching areas
My academic work has been focusing on the following fields: philosophy of culture and cultural theory, phenomenology, history of philosophy (primarily Plato, Aristoteles, Aquino Thomas, Kant, Hegel, Husserl, Heidegger, Foucault), culture-dependent meaning formation, collective emotions, happiness, love and self-deception.
The list of research articles, titles of supervised theses and courses I have taught, and other relevant matter can be found in the Estonian Research Information System ETIS.
Public engagement and social activity
I have published opinion articles and essays on topics of my research, book reviews, forewords and epilogues, textbooks and study materials. I have also spoken in public debates and discussions, many of these concern higher education and the role of university in the society. I participated in the creation process of Tallinn University in 2005. I was one of the signatories to Charter 12 and participants in the Ice Cellar Initiative, and one of the authors of the initiative A Viable State (Elamisväärne Riik).