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@utwente.nl <mailto:p.a.e.brey@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@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