CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Three postdoc positions in philosophy, history of science, sociology of
knowledge


These positions are available at the Department of Philosophy, University
of Vienna, in the ERC-funded project:

“The Emergence of Relativism: Historical, Philosophical and Sociological
perspectives”

(ERC Advanced Grant, PI: Prof. Martin Kusch), June 2014 to May 2019.

(One further post-doc position and two PhD studentships will be advertised
in 2015 and 2016 respectively.)


Information about the project is available here:

https://www.academia.edu/5095013/ERC_Proposal_on_Relativism_Short_Version_B1_

And here:

https://www.academia.edu/6219639/ERC_Proposal_on_Relativism_Long_Version_B2_


Three of the following four postdoc positions will be filled by this
summer, the fourth in 2015. In this call, preference will be given to the
first three profiles (Postdocs 1-3 below), though in case of strong
candidates for the fourth profile (Postdoc 4), the order of hiring can be
changed.

One postdoc position (“Postdoc 1”) will be for a historian of
German-speaking 19th and 20th-century intellectual history, especially
historicism. Postdoc 1 will work on the “historicism” strand of the
project. The result will be a monograph and/or string of papers or book
chapters in leading anthologies and journals. Postdoc 1 will join the
project for a maximum of 54 months.

One postdoc position (“Postdoc 2”) will be for a historian of 19th and
early 20th-century German-speaking philosophy or science, with special
competence in one or more figures of the “philosophy of life”. Postdoc 2
will write a monograph and/or a string of papers on the development of the
philosophy of life into the Nazi period, with a special focus on the
emergence of, and debate over, relativistic themes. Postdoc 2 will join
the project for a maximum of 54 months.

One postdoc position (“Postdoc 3”) will be a sociologist of knowledge or a
historian of philosophy, with special interests in the history of
German-speaking social and political philosophy in the 19th and early 20th
century. Postdoc 3 will work on the “sociologism” strand of the project.
The result will be a monograph and/or a string of papers or book chapters
in leading anthologies and journals. Postdoc 3 will join the project for a
maximum of 60 months.

One postdoc position (“Postdoc 4”) will be a philosopher specializing in
contemporary debates over relativism in epistemology and logic. Postdoc
(4) will write a string of papers evaluating and re-evaluating 19th and
early 20th-century arguments for and against psychologism, historicism and
other related forms of relativism. Postdoc (4) will also work on the other
systematic questions, e.g. on the associations between relativism and
other "isms". Postdoc (4) will join the project for a maximum of 48
months.

The PI and the junior members of the team will work closely together. This
is necessary because the four historical strands are intertwined, and
because the systematic work will build upon and inform the historical
work. There will be weekly joint seminars and joint publications.

The project team will organize three “landmark” conferences, in years 3,
4, and 5, entitled “Relativism, Past and Present, I, II, III”. The aim
will be to bring together leading historians, sociologists and
philosophers interested in the emergence and development of relativism,
and to produce 2-3 anthologies on the basis of the conference papers.

Several senior scholars, including Prof. David Bloor and Prof. Paul
Boghossian, will join the team for three-month periods during the project.

The University of Vienna is a leading research university, and its
Department of Philosophy has a lively research culture (eleven full
professors, a total of about twenty permanent research staff, more than
ten postdocs, and about three visiting speakers every week).

Candidates of all nationalities are encouraged to apply; applications from
women are especially welcome. The project is committed to promoting
handicapped individuals and encourages them to apply.

None of these postdoc positions involves a teaching obligation.
The ability to work in an interdisciplinary team is important.
For Postdoc positions 1-3 knowledge of German is essential.

The monthly pre-tax salary for the postdoc positions is about 3,500 euros.

Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Candidates are requested to
submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae (including list of publications),
a research proposal on a topic related to the project (1000 words
maximum), two samples of writing (i.e. articles or book chapters), and
three names and email addresses of referees who have agreed to write a
letter of recommendation to: Ms. Ernestine Umscheider
<[log in to unmask]> by 12noon on March 31st 2014.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in person or over Skype in
April so as to allow for a start on June 1st 2014. (A later starting date
is possible in exceptional cases.)

Contracts will be issued for one year in the first instance; in case of
satisfactory performance the contract will then be extended to cover the
full 4-5 years.

Informal enquiries should be addressed to:
Martin Kusch <[log in to unmask]>



-- 
______________________________________________________
Prof. Martin Kusch
Department of Philosophy
University of Vienna
Universitaetsstrasse 7
A-1010 VIENNA
Phone: +43-1-4277-47622
Webpage: http://univie.academia.edu/MartinKusch/

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