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Call for Applications Theme: Human Dignity as the Foundation of Human Rights? Type: 2 PhD Researchers Institution: Department of Philosophy, Utrecht University Location: Utrecht (Netherlands) Deadline: 27.1.2013 __________________________________________________ The Department of Philosophy of Utrecht University is looking for: 2 PhD Researchers (2 x 1,0 fte) The positions are part of the research project ‘Human Dignity as the Foundation of Human Rights?’ which is a five year philosophical project on the question to what extent the foundational role of human dignity in the human rights framework can be justified. The project is funded by NWO. 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. In order to bring this about, researchers are expected to work in relevant philosopical subdisciplines such as normative ethics, political philosophy or philosophy of law. Also, each researcher in the group will work on a specific theme within the overall programme. The content of the themes has not yet been fixed: applicants are invited to submit their own proposals. Some plausible themes are bioethics, global justice and future generations. The work on these specific themes should in turn contribute to the overarching theoretical analysis. This structure will motivate intensive cooperation within the research group. Application procedure We are looking for two talented and dedicated young researchers with a background in a relevant area of philosophy, who are willing to work in an active team. Fluency in English is required. We offer two full-time PhD positions, consisting of an initial period of 18 months which, after a satisfactory first year, will be extended by another 30 months (4 years in total), with a gross monthly salary starting at € 2,042,- in the first year, ending at € 2,612,- in the fourth year (1,0 fte). Applications should contain the following: - an application letter (max. 1 page) - a curriculum vitae - an outline that shows how you would fill in your project and position within the overall programme (max. 1 page) Applications should be submitted online via: http://www.uu.nl/NL/Informatie/sollicitanten/Pages/vacatures.aspx The deadline for applications is January 27, 2013. The full text of the proposal can be downloaded from: http://www.uu.nl/faculty/humanities/NL/Onderzoek/onderzoekinstituten/zeno/actueel/Pages/20110713-32-583-563-human-dignity.aspx Regarding the proposal, it should be noted that the description of the individual projects is outdated: as said candidates are now free to submit their own project proposal, as long as they can show how it fits within, and contributes to, the overall programme. For other questions please contact: [email protected] __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
