PhD studentship (EXPIRED)

A PhD position is available at the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSL) at UiT: The Arctic University of Norway.   The position is funded by HSL and is affiliated with the Environmental Philosophy Research Group. 

The Environmental Philosophy Group is a small but active research group whose members are interested in a broad range of questions of human relationships to the natural environment. Main research themes include ontological questions about “nature”, links between philosophy and biology, questions of ethics and justice relating to new technologies, just responses to climate change, and natural resource justice.  In terms of philosophical approaches, the analytic tradition, the Frankfurt School and phenomenological tradition are all represented within the group. 

Engagement with other research groups will also be encouraged.   The group has an international outlook and a six-twelve month stay at a university abroad is also encouraged. 

The daily workplace will be at UiT campus, Tromsø.

The position is for a period of four years.  The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years.  The fourth year is distributed as 25% of each year and may consist of teaching and/or administrative duties. 

Project Description.

The dynamic linkages between climate change and biodiversity (two of nine “Planetary Boundaries, according to the Stockholm Resilience Centre) have been increasingly acknowledged in science-policy discussions, but remain under-explored, both in conceptual and practical terms. 

The PhD project will be focused on the interlinkages between climate change and biodiversity and the philosophical implications of taking them seriously.  The overarching theme will be “how does acknowledging the value and role of biodiversity affect the form and content of responses (practical or phenomenological) to climate change”. The project will engage with literature in environmental philosophy, ethics, and political philosophy concerning climate change and justice, although the precise weighting of these may vary.  It will also engage with relevant literature from other disciplines necessary to support the philosophical research.  The output will be an in-depth and original conceptual and/or normative analysis which gives an account of the relationships between climate change and biodiversity and the philosophical and/or practical implications of this account. 

Possible research questions may include, but are not limited to:

How can different understandings about the concept, role and value of biological diversity contribute to the debates between “degrowth” and “green growth”. 

How does, or how should, the concerns for biodiversity affect the globally endorsed climate target of limiting warming to 2 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures and or responses to climate change?  If there is a trade-off between climate concerns and concerns about biodiversity – how can that be managed in an ethical manner?

How are concepts such as “limits to nature”, “planetary boundaries”, “ecological limits” to be understood?  What kinds of knowledge or inquiry are needed to understand them?  What does it mean, in an existential or practical sense, to be constrained or to transcend such limit/boundary?

Qualifications and other requirements. 

The position requires a Masters’ degree, grade B, or equivalent.  Consideration will be given to candidates who have submitted, but not been awarded their Masters degree,  provided they will receive the qualification before commencement of the position. 

The candidate must demonstrate substantial knowledge and understanding of philosophical debates in environmental philosophy and/or climate justice.  Priority will be given to those with an MA in Philosophy or demonstrable academic background in philosophy, but other relevant subject areas can be considered. 

Documented knowledge of English is required.

The candidate must present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project.  It should contain a description of the theme, research questions, an explanation of their philosophical relevance and indicate the intended methodology.  It should also include a proposed timeline for completion within four years.    The final project description will be developed in co-operation with the PhD supervisor(s). 

Emphasis will be placed on the candidates’ potential for research, motivation and personal suitability for the post.  

Application.

The application deadline is 21 September 2022.

Applications must be made through jobbnorge.no.  They must contain the following.

• Cover letter
• Project proposal of 5-10 pages, including references (file should be named “Project Proposal”.
• Masters’ thesis and any other academic work relevant for the position. 
• CV
• Transcripts and certificates for all degrees.
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (where applicable)
• Documentation of English proficiency.
• Names and contact details of 2 referees.

All documentation must be certified and translated into English or a Scandinavian language.  All materials to be considered must be sent within the application deadline.

Please see the job advertisement on jobbnorge.no for full information

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/225081/phd-fellow-in-philosophy