Postdoctoral Research Fellow (EXPIRED)

Applications are invited for up to two three-year postdoctoral position(s) in medieval philosophy, starting 1 September 2024.

The relevant positions are funded by the European Research Council (ERC), through the Truth in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (TAMP) project, directed by Tamer Nawar and based at the University of Barcelona.

This project will offer the first focused and systematic examination of philosophical conceptions of truth in ancient and medieval philosophy. It will examine the origins, motivations, and challenges faced by conceptions of truth in this period and how these challenges led to the development of alternative theories of truth. By holistically examining both ‘major’ and ‘minor’ figures and texts in this period and combining metaphysical approaches to truth (focusing on issues such as facts, correspondence, etc.) with logical and semantic approaches (focusing on issues such as semantic paradoxes) this project will offer us a better understanding of a central philosophical issue across the Greek, Arabic, and Latin traditions and greater insight into an extremely rich but often neglected period of philosophy.

The primary responsibility of the postdoctoral researcher(s) will be to perform research on the development of theories of truth developed in the Middle Ages and how such theories responded to certain philosophical problems, such as those posed by future contingents, semantic paradoxes (such as Liar paradoxes) and to publish this research in peer-reviewed journals and books. The researcher should also contribute to the TAMP (Truth in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy) project in other ways, for instance by co-organising workshops and conferences, co-editing special issues or volumes, taking part in regular meetings, and collaborating in translations and reading groups and working closely with the principal investigator and other members of the project.

It is envisioned that the relevant postdoctoral research project(s) will examine accounts of truth and the relevant philosophical issues and arguments (such as future contingents and semantic paradoxes) in medieval philosophy, with a particular focus on:

(i) the period between al-Kindi and Avicenna (medieval Arabic philosophy);

and/or

(ii) the thirteenth and, especially, fourteenth century (medieval Latin philosophy).

Applicants will be asked to submit the following documents:

• a cover letter of up to 1000 words in which you describe your research interests and qualifications for the position.
• an academic CV which includes the names and contact information of up to three referees who may be asked to write letters of recommendation.
• a research plan (up to 2500 words) in which you describe the research you would propose to undertake as part of the TAMP project, focusing on accounts of truth and relevant philosophical issues and arguments (for instance, those concerning the nature of truth and related issues such as future contingents) in early medieval Arabic philosophy in the period between al-Kindi and Avicenna. You may include abstracts of proposed research papers. The research plan is expected to be both ambitious and feasible.
• Sample(s) of written work: either two shorter samples of written work (each no longer than 5000 words); or one sample of written work (of between 5000 words and 14,000 words in length) in philosophy.

The gross salary is €37,847.40. The initial contract is for one-year and is renewable for up to two further years (for a total of three years).

Applications should be made through the following portal, which includes detailed instructions:

https://seu.ub.edu/ofertaPublicaCategoriaPublic/listPublicacionsAmbCategoria?categoria.id=467615

It is strongly suggested that interested candidates become familiar with the details concerning user registration described in the ‘Information Note Application’ (see https://seu.ub.edu/documentPublic/download/467657) and submit their applications in good time ahead of the deadline.