The Philosophy Department at Ghent University is recruiting two PhD students to work on the ERC-funded project, ‘The Ethics of Loneliness’, under supervision of Prof. Dr. Bouke de Vries.
Project description:
Loneliness, which can be defined as the negative mental states (e.g. sadness, despair) that people experience when they feel that they do not have enough relationships, or not the right kinds of relationships (de Jong-Gierveld, 1987, p. 120), is a widespread phenomenon in many societies. For example, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, surveys from Europe and North America reported that 20 to 35 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 79 say that they are frequently lonely, a figure that rises to 40 to 50 percent among those aged 80 and above (Dykstra, 2009). These statistics are worrisome, as chronic loneliness has been found to contribute to e.g. depression; dementia; and poor physical health (Cacioppo et al., 2010), with some medical experts arguing that its health effects can be compared to those of smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Novotney, 2019). In addition to this, loneliness takes a heavy economic toll. In the UK, for instance, it is estimated that ill health associated with chronic loneliness costs employers £2.5 billion every year (HM Government, 2018), whereas in the US, Medicare is estimated to spend annually approximately $134 more for each socially isolated older adult compared to an older adult who is not socially isolated (AARP Foundation, 2018).Yet, while the severity of these harms and economic costs makes loneliness prevention and alleviation a highly important topic to study as psychologists and sociologists have long realized, philosophers have paid relatively little attention to it. The aim of this project is to fill this lacuna. Through ethical analysis and reflection on relevant philosophical, psychological and sociological literatures, it will investigate what moral duties private individuals and societies more broadly (i.e. states) have to help protect people from loneliness and to help ensure that people can protect themselves from loneliness.
PhD Position 1: ‘Developing Social Skills’
This project investigates what moral duties, if any, private individuals and states have to help people develop (better) social skills so that they can (better) protect themselves and others from loneliness. Such skills might be taught by e.g. parents and school teachers. However, there are also ways of enhancing people’s social skills that bypass the education process. For example, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (a form of non-invasive brain stimulation) is increasingly being used to address social cognition-deficits among young children with autism/autistic children. The ideal candidate for this project will have a background in philosophy, psychology, educational studies, or other relevant discipline.
PhD position 2: ‘Addressing Loneliness Without Human Sociability’
This project puts to moral scrutiny ways of offering protection against loneliness that do not involve human sociability. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, providing people with access to non-human sociability such as the companionship of pets and social robots; helping them to engage in activities that are not inherently social but that have been found to offer protection against loneliness nonetheless, such as practicing gratitude and mindfulness; and helping them to become more comfortable with being alone. The ideal candidate for this project will have a background in philosophy, psychology, technology studies, or other relevant discipline.
We offer:
- A PhD-position on a timely and socially important research topic;
- Involvement in the ERC-funded ‘Ethics of Loneliness’ project, which is embedded in the Ghent Research in Ethics, Law and Politics (GRELP) research group at Ghent University;
- A full-time position for four years as a PhD student, subject to positive evaluation after one year;
- An internationally competitive salary determined by the salary scales for PhD students. Click here for more information about our salary scales;
- A number of benefits provided to all Ghent University staff members, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed ‘bridge days’, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch). You will be allocated office space and a laptop, and receive funding for research activities like attending conferences abroad and organizing workshops.
The application deadline is November 15, 2023. If you wish to be considered for both PhD positions, please indicate so in your motivation letter (if you wish to be considered for both but have a preference for one of the positions, please indicate this as well and motivate your preference).
Top-ranked candidates will be invited for an interview (either on-site or online) in the course of November-December.
Your contract will start on February 1, 2024 at the earliest (a later starting date is possible).
Job profile
- You have a passion for research;
- You are interested in the research topic of at least one of the two positions (it is possible to apply for both);
- You possess strong analytical skills;
- You have a relevant Master’s degree (see the examples provided above)
- You have an impressive track record as evinced by your study results, publications, and/or awards;
- You are able and willing to take on responsibilities, take initiative and work independently on your research;
- You are a team player (the research team will consist of the PI, two PhD students, and a postdoc).
- You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
- You are willing to help organize project-related meetings, such as workshops and conferences;
- You are willing to participate in the work-in-progress seminar of the Ghent Research in Ethics, Law and Politics (GRELP) research group
- Experience with interdisciplinary work and/or a multi-disciplinary background is considered an advantage but not essential.
