[spsp-members] PhD position in Philosophy: 20th-Century French Philosophy of Science and Technology (Maastricht University)

Mon Apr 29 06:56:14 UTC 2024

 PhD position in Philosophy: 20th-Century French Philosophy of Science and
Technology (Maastricht University)

The recent pace and scale of new developments in science and technology
have presented our societies with an ever-expanding set of social and
political challenges. At the same time, there is a long tradition of
philosophers who have critically engaged with science and technology. This
history contains valuable but often forgotten insights and tools for the
critical evaluation of science and technology. We invite you to join our
faculty as a PhD student in philosophy to contribute to the recovery of
elements of the history of 20th-century French philosophy in order to
develop new critical tools for conceptualizing and evaluating contemporary
developments in science and technology. You will be part of a broader
effort to revisit the history of philosophy in order to enrich and
interrogate existing theoretical frameworks, ranging from AI ethics to
Science and Technology Studies (STS).

*Job Description*

We are seeking a highly qualified PhD candidate with a background in
philosophy to join our faculty and pursue groundbreaking research in
philosophy with a focus on the history of 20th-century postwar French
philosophy of science and technology.

Within the philosophy of technology, several frameworks have been developed
to critically assess contemporary science and technology. Especially in the
Netherlands, these methodologies are often associated with the so-called
empirical turn (linked to postphenomenology and STS). In recent years,
however, attempts have been made to broaden this toolbox and to revisit
other traditions that have thought critically about science and technology,
ranging from pragmatism to critical theory. If you are the successful
candidate, you will contribute to this broadening of the scope of the
philosophy of technology by looking at what 20th century French philosophy
of science and technology has to offer.

The existing literature on French philosophy of science has mainly focused
on the tradition of historical epistemology, in particular the work of
Bachelard, Canguilhem and Foucault. For this project, you will build on
this literature, but in particular to explore lesser known figures and
traditions. Your project will focus mainly on developments after the Second
World War. While it is well known that historical epistemology inspired
so-called 'French theory' in the 1960s and 1970s (e.g. Althusser, Foucault
or Bourdieu), there are other traditions that are less explored. Examples
that could potentially be the focus of the PhD project are the biological
philosophy of technology (Leroi-Gourhan, Simondon, Stiegler), French
phenomenology of science (S. Bachelard, Desanti), philosophical reflections
on self-organization processes (Serres, Atlan, Morin), early French
analytic philosophy (Granger, Vuillemin), early French new materialism
(Serres, Dagognet, Latour) or early French STS (Salomon, Callon, Latour).

Although the selection of authors will be determined on the basis of the
candidate's qualifications, the project will have three main aims. First,
you will aim to show how within post-war French philosophy of science and
technology we can see the development of tools for a political philosophy
of science that aims to critically assess science and technology in
society. Second, you will contribute to a comparison between what is
happening in France and what is happening in other traditions such as STS,
critical theory or analytic philosophy of science. Thirdly, you will draw
on new developments in the history of philosophy of science, in particular
those that have been developed to rewrite the history of logical positivism
and early analytic philosophy.

This PhD position is embedded in the Maastricht University Science and
Technology Studies Research Group (MUSTS). There you will be supervised by
Dr. Darian Meacham and Dr Massimiliano Simons. You will be provided with
training on general academic skills in the faculty’s Graduate School.
Further training is available through the Dutch national research school in
philosophy. As part of this project, you will also work together with a
group of other PhD students working topics related to philosophy of
technology.

*We expect you to:*

   - Perform scientific research towards completion of a PhD in Philosophy,
   with a focus on 20th-century French philosophy of science and technology.
   - Publish results at top-tier (international) conferences and in
   international journals;
   - Work independently, as well as collaboratively in both research
   oriented and in applied settings;
   - Assist with educational tasks (e.g., teach at undergraduate level,
   supervise students and internships).

*Requirements*

   - Masters or M.Sc. degree (completed, or to be completed shortly) in
   Philosophy, Science and Technologies Studies, History of Science, or
   equivalent;
   - Demonstrated (e.g., through publications, presentations, thesis,
   projects, etc.) interest and experience with French philosophy of science
   and technology
   - Proficiency in English (oral and written);
   - Proficiency in French (reading), oral and written skills is a plus;
   - Demonstrated interest and experience with recent philosophy of
   technology, STS and/or AI ethics is a plus;
   - Excellent communication skills;
   - Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a
   research-oriented environment;

If your profile does not completely meet the above criteria, but you are
interested and you want to show us your unique perspective on why you would
fit this project, we would still like to hear from you.

*What we offer*
*As PhD position in Philosophy: 20th-Century French Philosophy of Science
and Technology* *at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, you will be
employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located
in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:*

   - Good employment conditions. The position is graded to UFO profile PhD,
   with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2,770 in the
   first year and €3,539 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a
   full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly
   salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
   - An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1.0
   FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
   - At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost
   importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work
   partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive
   a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time,
   you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays
   per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and
   Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an
   additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your
   employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice
   model.
   - As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary
   employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and
   the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make
   use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
   - Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for
   your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering
   a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established
   initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the
collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local
provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here
<https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/working-um>.

*Maastricht University*

Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The
future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based
foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we
seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world.
Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study
programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students
work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By
discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate
answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills
for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the
world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and
scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities
allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value
your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here <http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/> for more information about
UM.

*Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences*
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences FASoS is a close-knit community of
approximately 250 staff members and 2100 students. During breaks and before
meetings, you can often find us at our favourite local coffee spot Bandito
Espresso.

Communication lines within our faculty are short and colleagues are always
ready to assist each other. FASoS consists of a highly international
student population and a significant part of our staff comes from abroad.
Our faculty offers four bachelor programs, eight masters programs and two
research master programs that are all characterized by their
interdisciplinary approach.

Our research institute studies societies and cultures as they have
developed in the modern and contemporary periods. We adopt a radically
interdisciplinary approach, analysing the interconnections between
Europeanization, globalization, scientific and technological advancement,
political change, and cultural innovation.

In addition to teaching and research, our colleagues enjoy expressing
themselves creatively. They create podcasts, write poetry as well as
fiction.

Working at FASoS means working in a challenging yet informal environment.
We believe in crafting your own career path and are always ready to help
you in making the most of your job. For more information about FASoS, you
can visit our website FASoS
<https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/about-um/faculties/faculty-arts-and-social-sciences>

*Department*
The department of Philosophy participates in all of the faculty's courses.
The curriculum's philosophical input is mainly thematically oriented:
teaching and research is intended to contribute to conceptual clarification
and normative reflection on technological, social, and cultural problems.
The philosophical expertise of the department focuses on three specialist
areas or points of special interest relevant to the various Bachelor and
Master programmes:

   - philosophy of technology, particularly the ethics and politics of new
   and emerging technologies
   - the philosophy of art and culture, with an important focus on artistic
   research
   - political and social philosophy, with a special interest in political
   culture

*Curious?*
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel
free to contact Dr Massimiliano Simons at
Massimiliano.simons at maastrichtuniversity.nl
more information.

*Applying?*

Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD? Apply now, no
later than 17 May 2024 for this position.

   - Please upload your CV
   - motivation letter (stating your research interests, the reasons why
   the PhD project matches your interests and knowledge; what your
   contribution would be)
   - copy of your MA Thesis
   - contact information of 2 referees

The first interviews preferably take place between 17-21 June. The second
interviews will preferably be held between 24-28 June.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal
qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and
inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student
population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and
strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects
led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this
position.

For more information and the application, see
https://vacancies.maastrichtuniversity.nl/job/Maastricht-PhD-position-in-Philosophy-20th-Century-French-Philosophy-of-Science-and-Technology/793323102/
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