[Air-l] postdocs - University of Twente - Evaluating the Cultural Quality of New Media

[Charles Ess]

Hi all,

On behalf of Philip Brey, director of the project, please pass on the
following to interested scholars and researchers -
 
The Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences,
University of Twente, is looking for
 
Three Postdocs
 
Three full-time Postdoc positions for a period of three years for the
project Evaluating the Cultural Quality of New Media.  Towards a Philosophy
of Human-Media Relations
 
About the Overall Project
All three Postdoc positions are part of a prestigious and exciting
international research project titled Evaluating the Cultural Quality of New
Media.  This five-year project, which will include five researchers and will
involve collaboration with leading international scholars and research
centres, has as its aim to develop a framework for better normative analyses
of new media and new media culture, especially in relation to their
contribution to the quality of life (“the good life”) and the quality of
society.  Project leader is Dr. Philip Brey (PhD, UC San Diego).  He will be
working on the project almost full-time.  The project will be part of a new
international Centre of Excellence in Ethics and Technology of the
departments of philosophy of Twente University, Delft University of
Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology.
 
Postdoc Project 1 - The Quality of Virtual Environments and Tools
This subproject aims to perform a philosophical analysis of the implications
of ever increasing virtualization for the quality of life and of society.
Virtualization is defined as the digital production of interactive
structures, whether graphical or symbolic, that mirror things and events in
the physical world.   What are the implications of this process for moral
and social identity, embodiment, and conceptions of reality, and how can
these implications be normatively evaluated?
 
Postdoc Project 2 – The Quality of Computer-Mediated Practice
This subproject focuses on computer-mediated social practices in
friendships, love relationships, and community life.  Increasingly, the
social world is held together by electronic networks. More and more,
communication, social relationships, and community formation take place over
such networks. The aim of the project is to perform a philosophical analysis
of the implications of this trend for the quality of life and of society.
 
Postdoc Project 3 – The Quality of Digital Information
This subproject focuses on the changed value of information after the
digital revolution.  It will analyze various conceptions of the value of
information, including liberal conceptions that emphasize its role in
enhancing autonomy, communitarian conceptions that relate it to the
well-being of communities and society, and culturalist conceptions that
emphasize the aesthetic, moral or spiritual value of information.  It will
then analyze positive and negative appraisals of the impact of the Internet
and other digital media relative to these ideals.
 
Profile
For all three projects:  A PhD degree or equivalent degree in philosophy.
Consideration will also be given to candidates with a multidisciplinary PhD
degree on a topic relevant to the project and some background in philosophy.
Demonstrable interest in philosophical issues relating to information
technology and new media.  Good analytical skills.  Good communication
skills in English, in writing as well as orally. Creativity,
open-mindedness, and ability to develop new ideas.
For project 1: Preferred areas of specialization: ethics, social and
political philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of mind.
For project 2: Preferred areas of specialization: social and political
philosophy, ethics.
For project 3: Preferred areas of specialization: social and political
philosophy, ethics, epistemology.
 
Offer
For all three projects:  A three-year full-time Postdoc position starting
August 15th, 2006. The gross salary depends on experience and qualifications
and will be in between € 3,024 and € 4,140.- per month (between € 39,554.-
and € 54,151.- per annum including vacation pay).  All three positions come
with a budget of up to € 10,000,- for travel and conference attendance.
 
Information and application
A description of the overall project, the three subprojects and a FAQ can be
retrieved from http://www.ceptes.nl/vici.  Applicants are advised to read
these texts carefully before applying.  The project leader, dr. Philip Brey
(e-mail: p.a.e.brey at utwente.nl <mailto:p.a.e.brey at utwente.nl> ), will be
happy to answer questions about the project.
Your application should contain the following documents: a letter of
application which explains your interest in the position at some length and
explains your qualifications; a curriculum vitae which includes the names
and email address/telephone number of at least two academic references; an
abstract and table of contents of your dissertation; at least one chapter
from your dissertation; and two academic publications (if available).
You application can be sent by e-mail (preferred) or by normal post to dr.
ir. J.F.C. Verberne (e-mail: pz-gw at gw.utwente.nl), managing director of the
Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE
Enschede, the Netherlands. Vacancy number 06/043, Please mention the project
number.
Your application should be in by May 26.  Job interviews will be held
between June 1 and 14 (travel expenses will be paid).
 ==


Charles Ess

Distinguished Research Professor,
Interdisciplinary Studies <http://www.drury.edu/gp21>
Drury University
900 N. Benton Ave.              Voice: 417-873-7230
Springfield, MO  65802  USA       FAX: 417-873-7435
Home page:  http://www.drury.edu/ess/ess.html

Co-chair, CATaC'06: http://www.catacconference.org
Co-chair, ECAP'06: http://www.eu-cap.org

Professor II, Globalization and Applied Ethics Programmes
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
http://www.anvendtetikk.ntnu.no/pres/bridgingcultures.php

Exemplary persons seek harmony, not sameness. -- Analects 13.23