The Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas, School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for a 22-month, fixed-term postdoctoral position in philosophy. The appointment begins on 1.1. 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus strongly welcomes applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.
Ensuring a gender balance at the Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas is a high priority at Aarhus University, and we particularly encourage women to apply for this position. No candidate will be given preferential treatment, and all applicants will be assessed on the basis of their qualifications for the position in question.
Research context
We are looking for an innovative, postdoctoral researcher with a background in philosophy, specialising in personal autonomy and/or moral psychology. The successful applicant will be part of a project on personal autonomy (funded by the AUFF), led by Professor Somogy Varga. The overall aim of the project is to reconsider personal autonomy in light of recent findings in psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science, which seem to indicate that it is often not our values and principles but irrelevant situational features (e.g. bodily experiences) that exert a determining influence on what we think and do. Some have argued that this presents a significant challenge to the idea of personal autonomy, with implications for practices (mental health, criminal justice etc.) that connect moral and legal responsibility to personal autonomy. Employing empirically informed philosophical methods of argumentation and explication, the project aims to offer a more profound understanding of the situational influences, explain the mechanisms responsible for them, and reconsider personal autonomy on the basis of these insights.
The position
The successful applicant is expected to:
- develop their research within the general framework of the project, in close cooperation with the PI
- present their research at national and international events and publish results in peer-reviewed, international scientific journals in a timely fashion
- participate in the daily working environment at Aarhus University
- collaborate with the PI, for instance by co-authoring articles and reviewing relevant literature
- initiate and help to organise research workshops, conferences and other such activities, and
- assist the PI in preparing a volume of papers for publication.
Qualifications and requirements
Applicants for this position must hold a PhD degree in philosophy or be at PhD level, and must be able to document:
- expertise in the research topic
- an international and relevant research profile of high international quality
- the ability and willingness to engage in close collaboration with the PI and the local research environment, and
- fluency in written and spoken English.
Ideally, applicants should also be able to document:
- experience of conference organisation, and
- experience of editorial work.
In view of this, applicants are asked to submit:
- a project description (maximum three pages) in which they indicate how they will contribute to the overall project. The project description should ideally demonstrate excellent knowledge of the relevant philosophical and empirical literature
- a concise statement of motivation for applying for the position (maximum one page), and
- a maximum of five publications or submitted papers (please note that a list of publications is not enough, the papers must be uploaded with the application).
Professional references or recommendations should not be included. Applicants who are selected for an interview may be asked to provide professional references.
The application must be submitted in English.
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Somogy Varga at [email protected]
For more information about the application and the employment procedure, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn, tel. +45 21 66 58 13, e-mail [email protected].
The work environment
The Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas at Aarhus University is the largest of its type in Denmark, and – owing in particular to the productive tension between the systematic and historical perspectives – the research conducted is characterised by an undogmatic and open-minded worldview. The researchers are involved in a variety of interdisciplinary projects both within and outside the Faculty of Arts.
Read more here: https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/philosophy-and-history-of-ideas/
School of Culture and Society
At the School of Culture and Society the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:
- From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
- From Antiquity to the issues facing contemporary societies
- From local questions to global challenges.
The school’s goal is to produce compelling research with an international resonance, as well as offering teaching and talent development of high quality. The school has a broad cooperative interface with society, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.
Qualification requirements Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.
Formalities Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/
If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts:shortlisting
Faculty of Arts The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.
The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 550 academic staff members, 275 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.
The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.
The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction withsociety.
Read more at arts.au.dk/en
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Deadline 17 August 2021
Aarhus University Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/
