Postdoctoral Researcher (EXPIRED)

The University of Iceland invites applications for a post-doctoral fellowship at the School of Humanities (Institute of Philosophy) in connection with the research project "Understanding Philosophical Progress" funded by the Icelandic Research Fund (RANNÍS). The full-time position is fixed-term until 31st of December 2025.

Project description

"Understanding Philosophical Progress" is a three-year project based at the University of Iceland. The main objectives of this project are, on the one hand, to develop and evaluate a novel understanding-based account of philosophical progress - the noetic account - and, on the other hand, to use the noetic account to intervene on three current meta-philosophical debates. The noetic account of philosophical progress is inspired by the noetic account of scientific progress, first proposed by one of the project's PIs. According to this account, philosophical progress consists in increased understanding, i.e. in grasping how something depends on, or fails to depend on, something else. In philosophy, the dependence in question is normally some form of constitutive or conceptual dependence. So, for example, philosophical progress would be made regarding free will to the extent that we succeed in correctly modelling what it is that constitutes free will, or our concept thereof, in a way that enables us to explain free will and its various features.

The noetic account will (i) provide the necessary background to evaluate debates about the prevalence of philosophical progress, which have been unproductively conducted without an account of what philosophical progress is; (ii) help us to evaluate whether, and the ways in which, disagreement undermines philosophical progress; (iii) evaluate which philosophical methodologies promote progress, with a focus on recent debates about the empirical methods utilised by experimental philosophy.

The project is led by principal investigators Finnur Dellsén (University of Iceland) and James Norton (University of Tasmania) and co-investigators Insa Lawler (UNC Greensboro), Sam Baron (Dianoia Institute of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University), and Daniel Stoljar (Australian National University). Furthermore, the project also involves collaborating with an advisory board constituted by David Chalmers (NYU/ANU), Catherine Elgin (Harvard University), Kristie Miller (Sydney University), Justin Systma (Victoria University, Wellington), Shamik Dasgupta (UC Berkeley), and Helen Beebee (University of Manchester).

Skills/Qualifications

• A doctoral degree in philosophy completed within 5 years from the beginning of the fellowship in a relevant field of the research project (extensions of eligibility window will be considered for career breaks relating to illnesses, maternity or paternity leaves and other related events).
• Excellent English skills (spoken and written).
• Research background relating to the research focus of the project such as in philosophy of science, epistemology, meta-philosophy or history of philosophy is desirable.

Additional comments

Wages according to the current collective agreement by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and Félag háskólakennara.

The application deadline is February 1st 2024 (at 11:59 GMT). The expected starting point of the position is May 1st 2024, although the exact date is negotiable.

The application should include:
• An academic CV
• A statement of research intent (up to 500 words)
• A sample of academic writing (e.g., an article or chapter)
• Certificates of academic degrees
• Two or three letters of recommendation with contact information (please ask each referee to email their letter to [email protected])

For further information please contact Finnur Dellsén, professor of philosophy, [email protected], or Eiríkur Smári Sigurðsson, Director of Research, School of Humanities, [email protected].

All applications will be answered and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made. We may request more information to help us assess your application. Applications may be valid for six months.