Expression of interest for hosting Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellows – Call 2023

The Center for Philosophy, Science, and Policy (CPSP; https://cpsp.univpm.it) at the Polytechnic University of the Marches, Ancona (Univpm) welcomes expressions of interest from candidates wishing to apply for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2023.

Philosophers, mathematicians, statisticians, and scientists in general are all equally encouraged to apply for cutting edge research in topics related to formal methods in the sciences, broadly construed: data analysis, measurement and evidence metrics, AI, scientific modelling, science epistemology, game-theoretic analysis of strategic interactions in the sciences, science-based policies, expert judgment (aggregation), Information Theory. 

We are particularly interested in forwarding our research on expert systems for probabilistic causal assessment, such as E-Synthesis (https://cpsp.univpm.it/research/projects/) – however any topic within the Center’s areas of research (https://cpsp.univpm.it/research/research-foci/) are welcome. 

The CPSP fosters partnerships with several cutting-edge research Centers (MCMP, CHESS, LLC Turin, META Milan, IMT Lucca) around the globe; the candidate’s project may be therefore embedded in a network of fruitful relationships (https://cpsp.univpm.it/profile/members/) within the Host Institution and in interaction with the network of collaborations.

Interested candidates in a joint application for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship may contact the Center Co-Directors:

Alexander Gebharter: a.gebharter@univpm.it
Barbara Osimani: b.osimani@univpm.it

Full details about the call can be found at: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships

The deadline for the application is September 13, 2023. 

You can either apply for a:
1. European Postdoctoral Fellowship: this is open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply;
2. or for a Global Postdoctoral Fellowship: this funds the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

We ask interested candidates to contact us as soon as possible, possibly no later than June 1, 2023.

Speakers: Uljana Feest, Hannes Rakoczy and Suilin Lavelle.

For more information, including how to join via zoom, please see: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/replication/conference-replication-crisis-or-opportunity/

The University of Groningen invites applications for

Please forward the job openings to potentially interested students. Deadline for all applications is 7 May 2023. The candidates will carry out research in the context of the NWO-funded VIDI project “Saving Reality with Exotic Causality” led by Dr. Simon Friederich.

Position 1: “Quantum foundations via phase space”.Phase space is the conceptual arena of classical statistical mechanics, and there is a phase space formulation of quantum mechanics. However, in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, the phase space formulation is almost never used. In this project, that neglected route will be pursued. The candidate will investigate what is the most promising phase space-based approach to the interpretation of quantum theory.Supervision: Simon Friederich and Sean Gryb (University College Groningen and Faculty of Philosophy, Groningen). For more details about the position, including on the topic, the conditions of employment and the procedure of application, see https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000A1PP.

Position 2: “Exotic causality”.Any phase space-based realist interpretation will have to reject some no-correlation assumption underlying no-go theorems that constrain viable interpretations. In doing so, it may have to embrace some form of “exotic causality” such as retrocausality, temporal non-locality, or superdeterminism. The candidate will investigate whether some specific type of exotic causality should be embraced and, if so, which.Supervision: Simon Friederich and Leah Henderson (University College Groningen and Faculty of Philosophy, Groningen). For more details about the position, including on the topic, the conditions of employment and the procedure of application, see https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000A1PP.

The 2023 call for EPSA fellows is now live: 16 spots are available for Central and Eastern European junior scholars, and scholars of all levels affected by the war in Ukraine, to visit a Western European University for one month.

The deadline for applications is set to the 17th of April 2023.

You can find the full application procedure and the list of participating institutions on our website.

All the best,

The European Philosophy of Science Association.

Timing ability is important for social interaction, decision-making and task management. However, making a good sense of time is not always easy. Some reliable timing mechanisms of organisms have been widely assumed and empirically supported, such as internal clock theory or circadian clock. By contrast, a number of psychological and neuroscientific studies have emphasized that human temporal perception can be modulated by perceptual contexts, physiological processes and psychological or emotional states. Since full understanding of our timing ability requires taking all these factors into account, the interdisciplinary dialogue among philosophers, psychologists and neuroscientists will provide a key insight into us as acting agents.

Keynote speakers (alphabetically sorted):

Chritoph Hoerl (philosopher, University of Warwick, UK)

Eve Atchariya Isham (psychologist, University Arizona, USA)

Giuliano Torrengo (University of Milan, Italy and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

Marc Wittman (psychologist, University of Freiburg, Germany)

Peter König (neuroscientist, University of Osnabrück, Germany)

Valtteri Arstila (philosopher, University of Helsinki, Finland)

We welcome two or three papers from PhD students who are investigating temporal perception in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science. You can participate virtually or in person. Please submit a short overview (100-200 words) and an extended abstract (max. 1000 words) for 20-30 minutes talk to eer-time@hhu.de by 15.4.2023. Please write your name, email, affiliation and title of the talk in the email. We will carefully review it and contact you by 15.5.2023 at the latest.

For more information: https://www.philosophie.hhu.de/eer-time

Full Professorship (W3) in Philosophy (f/m/d) with a focus on philosophy of (life) science and technology at the University of Heidelberg

at the earliest convenience. This position is intended as a bridge between the faculties of philosophy and engineering sciences and it is part of the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials.
https://adb.zuv.uni-heidelberg.de/info/INFO_FDB$.startup?MODUL=LS&M1=1&M2=0&M3=0&PRO=32995

Successful candidates will have a strong and demonstrated research interest in issues concerning the relationship of technology and organisms and the constitution of (human) life. They will have interdisciplinary experience in the philosophical analysis of the development of technology and biotechnology or the life sciences, including neuroscience. Their prospective research should include questions in the areas of philosophy of science, anthropology or ethics. We expect a preparedness to cooperate in current and planned projects on topics such as synthetic biology and engineering of molecular systems at Heidelberg University.

The duties of the position include interdisciplinary teaching of philosophy of science and technology in the bachelor and master programmes in philosophy and in engineering as well as supervising PhD theses. We expect a commitment to developing new teaching modules in philosophy and innovative teaching programmes which can form a bridge between the fields. Further responsibilities include transfer, grant acquisition, and participation in academic administrative duties. Teaching responsibilities are according to the law of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

The appointment requires a completed university degree, a qualified doctorate and, according to § 47 (2) of the Higher Education Law of the state of Baden-Württemberg, a habilitation, a successfully evaluated junior professorship or a comparable academic qualification The qualification in philosophy should be demonstrated by a PhD or Habilitation (or equivalent qualification). An additional qualification in science or engineering is required; this can be documented by a university degree, suitable publications, cooperations and/or acquisition of research grants.

Please submit your application in English with a curriculum vitæ including your complete research bibliography, teaching record, teaching and research statement in a single PDF to the Dean of Engineering Sciences, Prof. Dr. Guido Kanschat and to the Dean of the Philosophical Faculty, Prof. Dr. Katja Patzel-Mattern by email to applications-ing@uni-heidelberg.de. Applications received by April 17th, 2023, will receive full consideration. Feel free to use this e-mail address for questions about this position.

Heidelberg University is an equal opportunity employer and supports diversity. Qualified female candidates are especially invited to apply. Persons with disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Information on the appointment of professors and the collection of personal data are available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market. 

https://philsci.eu/EPSA23/CfP

The Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy invites registration for the following event:

Foundations of Observational, Classical and Semi-Classical Gravitational Physics and The Problem of Agency and Laws of Nature 

MCMP, LMU Munich

28-31 March 2023

https://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/events/workshops/container/fndnsphys23/index.html
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Idea and Motivation

The conference of “Foundations of Gravitational Physics and The Problem of Agency and Laws of Nature” will address various topics in theoretical physics and foundations of physics, focusing on gravitational physics and on agency and physical laws.  Invited physicists and philosophers have been chosen to represent different approaches to such topics (semi-classical gravity, holography, quantum gravity theories, foundations of physics) and to discuss different kinds of issues (locality, the nature of black hole entropy, approaches to the Information-Loss Paradox, the emergence of classicality in approaches to QG, quantum reference frames, epistemology and methodology of theory and of observation, ontology, inter alia), in an attempt to foster a dialogue among the different fields.  Contributed talks from theoretical physicists, observational astronomers and philosophers will be chosen in part so as to complement the perspectives of the invited speakers.  Such a gathering will spur new, innovative approaches to the above mentioned problems, as well as connecting and invigorating work on existing approaches. It will also provide young researchers with a comprehensive introduction to the state of the art of the various central fields of research, and established researchers with a comprehensive overview.

Registration and venue

The conference will be held in person at LMU Munich, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, room (D) Z003, 80539 München
Please send registration requests by 15 March 2023 using the following form: 
https://forms.gle/gqaxG15547yoHfu1A
 
There are no fees for the conference as well for the conference dinners.

Dates and Deadlines

Registration Deadline: 15 March 2023
Conference dinners will take place on Tuesday, the 28th of March and Thursday, the 30th of March.

Organizers

Erik Curiel 
Daniele Oriti
Manus Visser 
Aron Wall

For information about practical matters and registration, please contact one of the organisers.

Netzwerk Hermeneutik Interpretationstheorie (NHI): 8. Jahrestagung / Call for Papers 

Sprache und Aussersprachlichkeit – Ist alles Sein, das verstanden werden kann, Sprache? 

Keynotes

Gottfried Boehm (Kunstwissenschaft, Basel) 

Inga Mai Groote (Musikwissenschaft, Zürich) 

Thomas Wabel (Theologie, Bamberg) 

Zum Thema

Keine der mittlerweile zahlreich proklamierten ‘Wenden’ hat nachhaltig die gleiche Berühmtheit erlangt wie der von Richard Rorty 1967 beschriebene ‘linguistic turn’. Zunächst mit der analytischen Philosophie des 20. Jahrhunderts verknüpft, lässt sich anhand des Begriffs eine Hinwendung zur Sprache beschreiben, die in verschiedenen Strömungen der Philosophie sowie anderen Disziplinen beobachtbar ist und sich bereits bei Denkern der Aufklärung abzeichnet. Wenn auch das Problem der Sprache selbst älter ist als die Philosophie, die Zuspitzungen, die es im letzten Jahrhundert erfahren hat, begleiten uns bis in die Gegenwart, nicht zuletzt auch in der Hermeneutik.  

Schriftlich fixierte sprachliche Äusserungen bilden seit jeher den Hauptgegenstand hermeneutischer Bemühungen. Denker wie Hans-Georg Gadamer hat das zur These geführt, das Sprachverstehen sei nicht nur Paradigma für Verstehen, sondern Sprachlichkeit mache überhaupt den Charakter des hermeneutischen Gegenstandes aus. Wer die Universalität der Hermeneutik aufgrund der sprachlichen Konstituiertheit der Welt behauptet, wird aber erklären müssen, inwiefern Erfahrungen, die wir zumindest nicht primär als sprachlich ansehen – ästhetische Erfahrungen von Kunst in Musik, Bildern oder etwa praktische Fähigkeiten, die ohne sprachliche Artikulation Anwendung finden –, in denen es aber zum Verstehen kommt, sprachlich verfasst sind. 

Gehen wir hingegen davon aus, dass der Sprache Grenzen gesetzt sind, stellt sich zugleich die Frage nach den Grenzen unseres Verstehens. Einerseits hinsichtlich der Sprachlichkeit des Verstehens selbst, andererseits im Blick darauf, ob sich erarbeitete Verstehensbedingungen und Interpretationsmethoden einer allgemeinen Hermeneutik überhaupt auf aussersprachliche Phänomene beziehen lassen. 

Über dieses Problemfeld als Ganzes hinaus könnten u.a. die folgenden Aspekte von Interesse sein: 

• Wo wurden Annäherungsversuche zwischen Hermeneutik und Sprachphilosophie vorgenommen und wie lassen sich hermeneutische Bemühungen weiter mit verschiedenen Strömungen der Sprachphilosophie – analytisch, (post-)strukturalistisch, pragmatisch, sprachkritisch, u.a. – in Verbindung bringen? 
• Welche Bedeutung haben die empirischen Befunde der Psycho- und Neurolinguistik für hermeneutische Sprachkonzepte? 
• Wo greifen herkömmliche Sprachkonzepte hinsichtlich der Digitalität der gegenwärtigen Medienlandschaft zu kurz, wie wird diese in die hermeneutische Theorie und Praxis miteinbezogen? 
• Inwiefern kann von nichtmenschlichen Gegenständen als Objekten des Verstehens die Rede sein? 

Für die Tagung laden wir zu Beiträgen zu diesen und ähnlich grundlegenden Aspekten ein. Proposals (maximal 2’500 Zeichen, inkl. Leerzeichen) können bis zum 15. April 2023 unter folgender Adresse eingereicht werden: michaelnathan.goldberg@uzh.ch. Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Vorschläge! 

Die Kosten für die Referierenden der Tagung können übernommen werden. Die Beiträge werden, vorbehaltlich positiver Begutachtung, in der Buchreihe des Netzwerks (Hermeneutik und Interpretationstheorie, Verlag Schöningh/Brill, Paderborn) veröffentlicht. Bei Interesse an einer Tagungsteilnahme bzw. an der Arbeit des Netzwerks melden Sie sich bitte gleichfalls unter der genannten Adresse. 

Christiane Tietz, Vorsitzende NHI 

Michael N. Goldberg, Koordinator NHI 

The newly established, DFG-funded Emmy Noether Junior Research Group “UDNN: Scientific Understanding and Deep Neural Networks” invites applications for one postdoctoral position at the Institute for Philosophy and Political Science (IPP) at TU Dortmund University (TUDo). Together with group leader Dr. Florian J. Boge, you will conduct research on the impact of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) on science’s epistemology; specifically, on scientific understanding.

The TUDo is a flourishing environment for research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its philosophy, featuring multiple opportunities for inter- and intradisciplinary cooperation. With the newly funded Lamarr-Institute, it is co-host to one of six AI-research centers funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Education and Research. Through the University Alliance Ruhr, it features close connections with researchers from the Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Duisburg-Essen, working in diverse areas and on various issues of AI in science and society. The IPP at TUDo is also host to several members of the interdisciplinary project “Explainable Intelligent Systems” and is in the process of establishing a new professorship for practical philosophy with a focus on new technologies.

The position is initially advertised for up to three years and could potentially be extended for three further years, depending on your own as well as the project’s overall performance.

Requirements
Suitable candidates (f/m/d) have completed (or are presently close to completing) an excellent PhD in philosophy and can claim additional experience in either a natural science, mathematics, or computer science. They have an excellent command of the English language (good command of German is desirable but not required). They can claim international experience through research stays, studies abroad, or a background in an international research environment. They are willing to engage with researchers outside of philosophy (specifically: physics and theoretical biology). They also have excellent social skills and are willing to participate in, and contribute to, the project’s activities, such as: workshops, public events, regular project meetings, and online seminars. They are able to produce internationally visible, high-quality publications and present their work in international conferences and workshops.

• Salary Scale: TV-L E13, 100%.
• Total duration: Up to three years (+ potentially three years extension).
• Given equal qualification, preference will be given to individuals from underrepresented groups, such as female researchers or researchers with disabilities.
• Part-time employment is possible in principle.
• For the official advertisement, see https://tinyurl.com/UDNN-Postdoc.
• For further questions, please contact fjboge@gmail.com.

To apply, please send (i) a letter of motivation, (ii) your CV (incl. a list of publications), (iii) copies of your diplomas and (iv) a short summary (3 pages) of your PhD thesis to udnn.fk14@tu-dortmund.de, using as subject line the reference number w111-22. Closing date: 01 March 2023.