The Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology has the following job openings: 
2 Research Positions (Postdocs)
ID: Wiss24640
- starting: 01.04.2025
- fulltime
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- fixed-term
The position is based in the ERC research group 'REASONS F1RST – The Structure of Normativity’ (PI: Benjamin Kiesewetter).
Project description:
Some of the core fields of philosophy – including moral philosophy, value theory, and epistemology – are, at their heart, concerned with normative questions: questions about what is good or bad, right or wrong, justified or unjustified. These questions concern the content of judgements that human beings are constantly making and that structure our way of thinking, feeling, and acting. But while there is wide agreement in contemporary philosophy that normative judgements form a unified and important category of human thought, philosophers still struggle to understand what normativity actually is. One highly attractive hypothesis is that normativity can be analysed in terms of reasons – i.e. in terms of the factors that count in favour of or against actions or attitudes. The aim of REASONS F1RST is to systematically explore this Reasons-First Approach on a large scale and across various philosophical subdisciplines. Fostering multidisciplinary conversations between moral philosophy, epistemology, value theory, aesthetics, the philosophy of emotions, and related areas, the project will develop novel analyses of normative phenomena. It also seeks to address recent challenges to the Reasons-First Approach and to compare it to competing approaches. REASONS F1RST thus pursues a twofold objective: (i) to assess the merits and demerits of the Reasons-First Approach compared to alternative proposals, and (ii) to work out in detail how different normative phenomena – including values, obligations and rights, the justification of beliefs, as well as appropriateness norms for emotions – can be explained in terms of reasons.
The work programme of REASONS F1RST will be carried out in four sub-projects: (1) Reasons and Value; (2) Reasons and Ought; (3) Reasons and Knowledge; and (4) Reasons and Fittingness. According to our present plans, one of the advertised positions is associated with sub-project (3), while the other is associated with sub-project (4). However, we will also seriously consider applications from candidates whose research interests concern other aspects of the project. Further information on the project is available at the project website: https://thestructureofnormativity.net/project.
Employment is conducive to scientific qualification.
Project description:
Some of the core fields of philosophy – including moral philosophy, value theory, and epistemology – are, at their heart, concerned with normative questions: questions about what is good or bad, right or wrong, justified or unjustified. These questions concern the content of judgements that human beings are constantly making and that structure our way of thinking, feeling, and acting. But while there is wide agreement in contemporary philosophy that normative judgements form a unified and important category of human thought, philosophers still struggle to understand what normativity actually is. One highly attractive hypothesis is that normativity can be analysed in terms of reasons – i.e. in terms of the factors that count in favour of or against actions or attitudes. The aim of REASONS F1RST is to systematically explore this Reasons-First Approach on a large scale and across various philosophical subdisciplines. Fostering multidisciplinary conversations between moral philosophy, epistemology, value theory, aesthetics, the philosophy of emotions, and related areas, the project will develop novel analyses of normative phenomena. It also seeks to address recent challenges to the Reasons-First Approach and to compare it to competing approaches. REASONS F1RST thus pursues a twofold objective: (i) to assess the merits and demerits of the Reasons-First Approach compared to alternative proposals, and (ii) to work out in detail how different normative phenomena – including values, obligations and rights, the justification of beliefs, as well as appropriateness norms for emotions – can be explained in terms of reasons.
The work programme of REASONS F1RST will be carried out in four sub-projects: (1) Reasons and Value; (2) Reasons and Ought; (3) Reasons and Knowledge; and (4) Reasons and Fittingness. According to our present plans, one of the advertised positions is associated with sub-project (3), while the other is associated with sub-project (4). However, we will also seriously consider applications from candidates whose research interests concern other aspects of the project. Further information on the project is available at the project website: https://thestructureofnormativity.net/project.
Your Tasks
- conduct independent research in the context of the project (70 %)
- actively participate in the regular meetings and events of the research group and contribute to organizing workshops and other events (20 %)
- organizational tasks that are part of the self-administration of the university (10 %)
Employment is conducive to scientific qualification.
We offer
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- fixed-term (limited until 31.03.2027) (§ 2 (1) sentence 2 of the WissZeitVG; in accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases)
- fulltime
- internal and external training opportunities
- variety of health, consulting and prevention services
- reconcilability of family and work
- flexible working hours
- good transport connection
- supplementary company pension
- collegial working environment
- open and pleasant working atmosphere
- exciting, varied tasks
Your Profile
We expect
- a scientific university degree (e. g. Master) in philosophy
- a PhD in philosophy
- a documented research focus in the area of the relevant sub-project (e. g. epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of emotions, meta-ethics)
- excellent research achievements relevant to the project, which can be demonstrated by internationally peer-reviewed publications
- an independent research proposal that is closely related to the project
- a cooperative and team-oriented style of work
- an autonomous, self-reliant and committed manner of working and the willingness to take a formative role within the research group
- strong coordination and organization skills
- good proficiency in written and spoken English
Preferred experience and skills
- experience in organizing workshops and conferences
- international experience in academia
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to receiving your application. To apply, please preferably use our online form via the application button below. In addition to the usual documents (CV, list of publications, copies of certificates and, if available, list of courses taught), applications should include the following documents:
- cover letter outlining your research interests, motivation and expectations with regard to working in the research group with reference to the sub-project in which you would like to work (max. 2 pages)
- description of a research project relevant to the project (max. 3 pages)
- summary of your dissertation (max. 3 pages)
- your dissertation
- an essay that exemplifies your own research work (preferably internationally peer-reviewed, published or accepted for publication) (max. 30 pages)
Please submit your CV as a separate file and the remaining documents as a single PDF document. The application can be written in German or English. Further information about Bielefeld University can be found on our homepage at www.uni-bielefeld.de.
application deadline: 06.01.2025
Contact
Prof. Dr. Benjamin Kiesewetter
benjamin.kiesewetter@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Geschichtswissenschaft, Philosophie & Theologie
Dekanat
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Prof. Dr. Benjamin Kiesewetter
benjamin.kiesewetter@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Geschichtswissenschaft, Philosophie & Theologie
Dekanat
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements as an equal-opportunity employer and has been
recognized as a family-friendly university. The university welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard
both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in information technology as well as the skilled crafts and trades.
Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state statutes on equal opportunity. Applications from suitably qualified
handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.
At Bielefeld University on request positions can be carried out with reduced working hours as long as this does not conflict with official needs.
