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Call for Applications Theme: Human Dignity as the Foundation of Human Rights? Type: Postdoc Researchers Institution: Department of Philosophy, Utrecht University Location: Utrecht (Netherlands) Deadline: 10.9.2011 __________________________________________________ The Department of Philosophy of Utrecht University is looking for: 2 Postdoc Researchers (2 x 1,0 fte) Both positions are part of the research programme ‘Human Dignity as the Foundation of Human Rights?’ which is a five year project on the question to what extent the foundational role of human dignity in the human rights framework can be justified. The programme is funded by NWO. Programme description The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) articulates that human dignity is the reason why we must grant rights to all human beings. By adopting the UDHR, nearly all countries in the world have committed themselves to respect for human dignity. But the concept of human dignity raises numerous questions: Who has dignity? All and only members of the human species? What specific moral obligations follow from the attribution of dignity? How can human dignity provide a foundation for human rights? Is the concept exclusively recognised by Western culture or are there reasons for expecting universal acceptability? The core meaning of the concept, its historical roots and its philosophical justification are insufficiently understood. This generates an urgent problem because references to human dignity increasingly play a crucial role in debates on bioethics, new technologies and globalization while there is widespread suspicion that references to human dignity merely have a rhetorical function. In the programme, the research group as a whole will attempt to reconstruct the core meaning and normative content of the concept of human dignity in current discourses. The project leader, Prof. Marcus Düwell, and the postdoc researchers will investigate, in dialogue with contemporary moral philosophy, how the justificatory function of human dignity can be conceptualized. This theoretical investigation will form the basis for three case studies on bioethics, global justice and future generations, examined in three corresponding PhD-projects. The case studies will in turn provide the theoretical analysis with input from concrete ethical debates. This structure will motivate intensive cooperation within the research group. Postdoc project 1: Philosophical Approaches to Human Dignity This postdoc project will examine the relevance of various philosophical approaches to human dignity for the human rights framework. Possible relevant approaches are: human dignity as the right to have rights; human dignity as the prohibition of humiliation; human dignity in the context of the capabilities approach; and human dignity as the protection of the necessary conditions of agency. As Kant's interpretation of human dignity has had a significant influence on the modern uses of this concept, the research group will also study how a foundational role of human dignity for human rights can be reconstructed along the lines of diverse interpretations of Kantian moral philosophy. The aim of this critical discussion will be to understand the different ways of conceptualizing human dignity as a foundation for the human rights framework. The postdoc is expected to publish a series of articles on this topic. Postdoc project 2: Alternative Justifications of Human Rights This postdoc project focuses on different justifications of human rights in political and moral philosophy that do not refer to human dignity, such as natural rights theories, natural law theories and social contract theories. The main aim will be to investigate the impact these alternative justificatory strategies have on the content, subject and application of human rights. It will also be examined whether concepts of human dignity are implicitly presupposed in approaches that do not explicitly refer to the notion. In cooperation with other members of the research group, different strategies for the justification of human rights will be compared. It will be investigated whether human dignity is necessary for the understanding and justification of human rights. The postdoc is expected to publish a series of articles on this topic. Application procedure We are looking for two talented and dedicated young researchers with a strong PhD in a relevant area of philosophy and with proven research capabilities, who are willing to work in an active team. The applicants should preferably have some background in law, bioethics, political theory or human rights studies. Fluency in English is required. We offer two full-time positions, consisting of an initial period of 24 months which, after a satisfactory evaluation, will be extended by another 12 months (3 years in total). The salary starts from €2,977,- gross per month (Scale 10, 11 Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities). Applications should contain the following: - an application letter in English - a short outline of your ideas on how to fill in this position (max. 1000 words, in English). - a curriculum vitae in English; - the contact information of two people willing to recommend you for this post; - a writing sample, in English, Dutch or German, of max. 25 pages; - a list of grades; - a scan or copy of the PhD certificate; - a link to an online version of the PhD thesis Applications should be submitted online via: http://www.uu.nl/NL/Informatie/sollicitanten/Pages/vacatures.aspx If you want to apply for several positions, please submit separate application forms for each position. The deadline for applications is 10 September 2011. Interviews will be held in November 2011. The positions will be available from January 2012 (there is some flexibility in the starting date). The full text of the proposal can be downloaded from: http://www.uu.nl/faculty/humanities/EN/research/researchinstitutes/zeno/current/Pages/default.aspx For other questions please contact: [email protected] __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
