Pyrrhonian Skepticism as a Tool of Epistemic Defense Against the Ideology of the “russian world”

Abstract

Relevance. The ideology of the “russian world” (russkiy mir) functions not through rational argumentation but as an affective apparatus, mobilizing civic consensus via ressentiment, fear, and nostalgia. Prevailing counter-disinformation strategies rely primarily on cognitive verification tools; however, these remain inadequate as the ideology bypasses the rational faculty through its profound affective impact. Society must have both cognitive and affective resources for self-defense, that is, the ability not only to recognize manipulation, but also to be inaccessible to it. This study aims to explore Pyrrhonian ἐποχή and ataraxia as instruments of epistemic defense against the “russian world" ideology and to delineate the pedagogical implications of these findings for the Ukrainian educational context. Methods. The research employs a theoretical conceptual analysis incorporating elements of hermeneutics and interdisciplinary synthesis at the intersection of ancient skepticism, social epistemology, ideology theory, and critical “russian world” studies. Novelty. For the first time, a direct correlation is established between the Pyrrhonian tradition and resistance to this specific contemporary ideological system. The study introduces the concept of “epistemic ataraxia” – a state of affective and epistemological resilience achieved through the consistent application of ἐποχή. Furthermore, it demonstrates that Agrippa’s five tropes serve as an operationalized tool for disrupting the chain of ideological influence. Conclusion. The ancient Pyrrhonian tradition turns out to be not an archival artifact, but a living resource. Pyrrhonian ἐποχή operates in the interval between representation and judgment, effectively neutralizing the mechanism of affective engagement with ideology. The Ukrainian educational landscape requires supplementing cognitive critical thinking programs with an affective component, wherein Agrippa’s tropes serve as a practical method for cultivating epistemic defense across various levels of learning.