Postdoctoral position in social epistemology with a focus on the epistemology of disagreement (768102)

Postdoctoral position in social epistemology with a focus on the epistemology of disagreement



The Department of Media, Cognition and Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, invites applications for a one-year postdoc position in philosophy to be filled by 1 January 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter, to work on the epistemology of disagreement. Candidates with research qualifications in social epistemology and political philosophy are encouraged to apply.



The position is part the research project 'Complex Disagreement' (2014-2017) funded by the Danish Research Councils and headed by Klemens Kappel



Job content



The postdoc should carry out research on one or more aspect of the epistemology of what one might label complex disagreement. A and B disagree about a proposition such as global climate change is a fact when they adopt different doxastic attitudes to that proposition, say because A believes it while B rejects the truth of it. Disagreements can have varying degrees of complexity where the simplest concern epistemic peers with diverging beliefs about the truth of a single, factual proposition. Roughly speaking, epistemic peers are individuals who are equally competent and careful, and share all evidence and background assumptions. Recent discussions of disagreement in social epistemology have largely focused on peer disagreement. While providing an indispensable starting point, the focus on peer disagreement does, however, remain idealized in significant ways. By contrast, complex disagreements (i) involve large sets of propositions that are interrelated and basic in various ways, say because they involve fundamental assumptions about the nature of the world, proper sources of evidence, or sound epistemic principles, (ii) involve other items than mere doxastic attitudes to factual propositions, e.g., elements of faith or trust, or attitudes such as openness or tolerance, (iii) involve agents with the actual psychology of human beings. Important real-life disagreements are very often instances complex disagreements.



Applicants must be willing to work on one or more problems within the overall frame of the project, and must be capable and willing to contribute to collaborative research with the rest of the group. Applicants are invited to suggest specific proposals for research they would like to carry out as a postdoc in the project.



Qualification requirements



In order to be considered for the position applicants must have research qualifications at least corresponding to what can be achieved as part of a successfully completed PhD within a relevant field.



Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the following:



•Research qualifications, which will be assessed in relation to the period of active research, the degree of originality, and academic output.

•The applicant’s scientific record, academic breadth and depth, rigour, thoroughness and accuracy, as well as academic relevance in relation to the job description.

•Documented teaching qualifications.

•Documented administrative qualifications, if any

•Participation in networks – national and international

•Good interpersonal skills



For further details about the qualification requirements for postdocs, please refer to the job structure for academic staff: http://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/education-institutions



For further information about the position, and the full project description, please contact Klemens Kappel (kappel@hum.ku.dk).



Application



The application must be submitted online in Adobe PDF or Word format.

ZIP-files cannot be uploaded.



Please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page.



Please note that each field in the application form may only contain a single file of max. 20Mb.



The application must be written in English and include the following enclosures:



•Application letter/cover letter

•Curriculum vitae (with applicant’s e-mail address & telephone number)

•Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.).

•Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with *.

•Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of involvement in organising research, establishment of research seminars, symposia and congresses, etc.

•Project description and documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination, if any

•Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of three publications for assessment, of which at least two must have been published within the five years immediately preceding the deadline for applications. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and listed from 1 to 3



Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly stipulated. The Faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.



Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German and French can be expected to be assessed.



All material will be shredded at the end of the appointment procedure.



Appointment procedure



After the application deadline, the Head of Department selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Dean subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.



Applicants will be continuously informed about the progress of the procedure by e-mail.



Further information about the application procedure is available from HR and Personnel Officer Helle Schæbel, e-mail: VIPadmin@hum.ku.dk.



Salary and conditions of employment



The post will be filled according to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Additional bonuses may be negotiated on an individual basis.



A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad, http://ism.ku.dk/taxes.



If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH.



See: http://ism.ku.dk, http://workingconditions.ku.dk/ and https://www.workindenmark.dk/



UCPH wishes to encourage everyone interested in this post to apply, regardless of personal background.



The closing date for applications is 23.59 CET, 16 November 2016.



Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.