Research Associate in the Department of Philosophy: Existence after Kant

Job id: 081830. Salary: £43,205 – £45,521 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 15 January 2024. Closing date: 12 February 2024.

Business unit: Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Department: Philosophy.

Contact details:Mark Textor. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Research.

Job description

The postdoc will be based in the Department of Philosophy King’s College, London and funded by the AHRC/DFG project ‘Positing or Predicating? Existence after Kant’ directed by Dolf Rami (Bochum) and Mark Textor (London).

Kant’s take on existence is generally seen as a paradigm change in the history of thinking about this concept. The discussion of Kant’s innovation focused so far almost exclusively on Frege, Russell, Quine and their followers and ignored 19th century contributions that worked out Kant’s thought in radically different and fruitful ways. The project intends to change this situation. We will explore the most important 19th century constructive responses to Kant’s view of existence and thereby provide a better understanding of the Kantian paradigm change as well as gain new insights into existence. The project will assess further what the 19th century engagement with Kant adds to contemporary work on existence.

Candidates must have a PhD degree in philosophy, be able to read German, and have a background in either history of philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of logic and language or philosophy of mind. The postdoc will work with Mark Textor in London. They are expected to pursue their own research within the theme of the project and to help in organising workshops and seminars. The main selection criteria are fit with project theme and academic excellence.

King’s Philosophy Department is one of the largest and most distinguished departments in the UK. We have particular research strengths in the history of philosophy, philosophy of mind and psychology, philosophy of language and logic, metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of science, and moral and political philosophy.

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract for 30 months.

Key responsibilities

• Develop an independent research project that is related to the project’s main research themes.  
• Publish results of individual and collaborative research in academic journals. 
• Organise workshops, seminars and meetings related to the project. 
• Prepare presentation materials and attend events, conferences and meetings to disseminate research related to the project. 
• Assist the PI with aspects of the project management and administration. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1.       PhD in Philosophy. 

2.       Research achievement and outstanding capacity for advanced research in at least one of the following areas: History of Philosophy, Metaphysics, Logic and Language or Philosophy of Mind. 

3.       Ability to read German. 

4.       Ability and willingness to manage effectively administrative tasks as needed for the running of project. 

5.       Ability to work in a team in close collaboration with others.  

Desirable criteria

6.       Administrative Experience 

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Please include  

• a CV, including publications and two referees
• a brief personal statement (ca 500 words) explaining how your research will fit the project,
• a recent piece of your research of up to 5000 words. This may be an indicated portion of a larger piece of work.

The selection process will include a panel interview. These will take place around the second week of March.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and encourage applications especially from members of groups underrepresented in UK academic Philosophy and from people marginalised on any of the grounds specified under the UK Equality Act 2010.