University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is seeking to hire a (fully salaried) doctoral candidate in the intersection of environmental and economic ethics. The candidate will join the Financial Ethics Research Group which consists of philosophers and economists dedicated to ethical and political issues raised by the financial system (in the broadest sense). More specifically, the candidate will be connected to the research program Mistra Finance to Revive Biodiversity, which is a program funded by Mistra – the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research.

The term “biodiversity” denotes the variety and variability of life on Earth, including the variety of species and ecosystems. Unfortunately, mankind’s failure to recognize the importance of and to successfully manage biodiversity has led to what is now considered a sixth mass extinction of species. The continued loss of biodiversity is eroding the foundation of all societies and economies, including our Western system of financial capitalism. Yet it has been difficult to express this loss in economic or financial terms, which may be one of the reasons why previous efforts to halt biodiversity loss have failed.

Voices are now being raised for making economic agents, such as multinational companies and financial investors, become more engaged in these efforts. After all, in financial capitalism, companies and investors command substantial stewardship over the allocation of resources which could be put to use to revive biodiversity. But in order to do so, these economic agents must be provided with both suitable knowledge and powerful incentives to consider the effects of their activities on species and ecosystems. So precisely how can this be achieved? And, more generally, is it really possible to connect environmental and economic values in a sufficiently robust manner?

This doctoral position allows the candidate to explore the topic of environmental versus economic aspects of biodiversity in greater detail. We welcome proposals that are grounded in environmental ethics or economic ethics (or both). Furthermore, the candidate is expected to propose and explore his or her own ‘twist’ or perspective on the topic, on the basis of stringent philosophical analysis and argumentation. Some examples of interesting research questions in this regard are:

• What is the value of biodiversity? Does it have intrinsic or only instrumental value? Can this value be captured by some more specific ethical or economic theory?
• Can and should we put a price on biodiversity? That is, can and should we use markets and economic thinking in order to protect species and ecosystems? Or would this count as “commodifying” nature in an unethical way?
• What duties, if any, do economic agents like companies and investors have to protect biodiversity? How do such duties square with their traditional economic role?
• What policies can the state legitimately pursue to safeguard biodiversity? Do these include substantial regulations of markets and financial flows? Should we understand biodiversity loss as a market externality?
• To what degree should we permit investors to prioritize biodiversity over other important environmental goals, such as climate change adaption and mitigation? How much should policymakers guide investors in weighing biodiversity preservation versus other similarly important objectives?
• To what extent can existing economic theories capture or explain the value of biodiversity? Is the mass extinction of species a failing of the economic sciences?

Applications must be received by: January 9, 2023

In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system. See more here: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=7&lang=UK&validator=9b89bead79bb7258ad55c8d75228e5b7&job_id=28014

The University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is looking to hire one PhD candidate (4 years), as well as one or more post docs (2 years), in the intersection of economic and environmental ethics. All positions are fully funded and provide a competitive salary as well as other benefits.

Economic ethics is the application of moral or political philosophy to critical issues in business organizations or the economic system. Environmental ethics is the application of moral or political philosophy to critical issues in the relationship between humans and non-human environmental systems. The research area should be understood broadly so as to include subtopics like business ethics, the political philosophy of financial markets, ethics of commodification, ethics of climate change, ethics of biodiversity, environmental philosophy and the philosophy of (environmental) economics. Any applications related to these subfields are welcome.

Potential research questions in these fields include the following:

• What moral duties, if any, do commercial firms have to mitigate climate change?
• Do consumers have a duty to invest in sustainable firms?
• Is sustainability an irreducible moral value?
• Can environmental values (such as biodiversity) be expressed in monetary terms?
• Do advantaged nations have duties to promote sustainability in vulnerable nations?
• Is the state justified in coercing financial markets towards sustainability?

The researchers will join the Financial Ethics Research Group which consists of philosophers and economists dedicated to ethical and political issues raised by the financial system (in the broadest sense). More specifically, the positions are connected to the research program Sustainable Finance Lab, which is a collaboration between several Swedish universities that is funded by Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency. Additional funding is due to the University of Gothenburg, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation, and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra).

More information about the PhD candidate position: Job ad at University of Gothenburg (Deadline June 13, 2022)

More information about the post-doc position(s): Job ad at University of Gothenburg (Deadline May 31, 2022)

If you have questions, please contact: Professor Joakim Sandberg, project leader

The University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is looking to hire one or more 2-year post docs in the intersection of economic and environmental ethics. Economic ethics is the application of moral or political philosophy to critical issues in business organizations or the economic system. Environmental ethics is the application of moral or political philosophy to critical issues in the relationship between humans and non-human environmental systems. The research area should be understood broadly so as to include subtopics like business ethics, the political philosophy of financial markets, ethics of commodification, ethics of climate change, ethics of biodiversity, environmental philosophy and the philosophy of (environmental) economics. Any applications related to these subfields are welcome.

Potential research questions in these fields include the following:

• What moral duties, if any, do commercial firms have to mitigate climate change?
• Do consumers have a duty to invest in sustainable firms?
• Is sustainability an irreducible moral value?
• Can environmental values (such as biodiversity) be expressed in monetary terms?
• Do advantaged nations have duties to promote sustainability in vulnerable nations?
• Is the state justified in coercing financial markets towards sustainability?

The post doc will join the Financial Ethics Research Group which consists of philosophers and economists dedicated to ethical and political issues raised by the financial system (in the broadest sense). More specifically, the post doc will be connected to the research program Sustainable Finance Lab, which is a collaboration between several Swedish universities that is funded by Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency. Additional funding is due to the University of Gothenburg, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation, and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra).

Applications must be received by: May 31, 2022

More information: Job ad at University of Gothenburg

If you have questions, please contact: Professor Joakim Sandberg, project leader

The application deadline is 1 February 2022.

Companies are being regulated by politics, but they also shape the political arena themselves, whenever they influence politicians and political parties. Moreover, companies fulfill public functions such as providing public goods, regulating their own business activities, or addressing societal problems, like environmental harms. Can such a mixture of private activity and public responsibility be legitimate, in a democratic society? Do traditionally state-oriented normative ideals such as democracy, social justice and human rights apply to them? These are central questions in the ERC-Consolidator Grant-project ‘The Business Corporation as a Political Actor’. For more information, please visit the project website.

The postdoc position will execute one of the subprojects within this larger project, namely the one on ‘Economic Theories of the Corporation’. This subproject seeks to integrate insights from prevailing economic theories of the firm into the debate about the political theory of corporations. For example, can economic theories account for corporate power? To what extent do economic constraints arising from market competition make it more difficult to render corporate political power legitimate? Since corporations are both economic and political actors, the subproject aims to understand whether and how these two sides can be integrated. This is crucial for the development of a sound political theory of corporations.

You will work under the supervision of the program leader, Rutger Claassen. You will be part of a research team consisting of two PhD-candidates and two postdoctoral researchers. You will play an active role in the research team, organize and take part in workshops, public events and other activities. The positions are based at the Ethics Institute, which is part of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of Utrecht University, which provides a stimulating and internationally oriented research environment. The position starts at September 1^st, 2022.

Qualifications

• You have completed a PhD in philosophy or in a related field (or for Dutch applicants, a PhD dissertation in one of these fields has already been accepted by the PhD Committee), by the time the position takes effect (September 1st, 2022). Additional knowledge in a field relevant to the project (especially law, economics, political science, history, sociology or business/management studies) is a plus.
• You are specialised in ethics and/or political philosophy, for example in the field of political authority/legitimacy, democratic theory and/or theories of justice.
• You have an excellent track record and research skills, relative to experience; and excellent academic writing and presentation skills.
• You have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• You have an active interest in interdisciplinary work which connects philosophical analysis to other relevant disciplines and societal challenges.

Offer

We offer a position of 0.8 FTE for 2 years. Initially the contract will be for one year. In case of good performance and a positive evaluation, the contract will be extended for the remaining period. The gross salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience  – ranges between €3,420 and €4,348 (scale 10 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. 

Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University can be found here

Apply

To apply, please upload the following documents:

(1) a one-page letter of motivation; followed by a one-page research note, setting out your ideas about how to work out the postdoc subproject (‘Economic theories of the Corporation’ see above).

(2) a curriculum vitae of maximum 3 pages, including the names and contact details of two scholars who can be contacted for a reference (NO reference letters at this stage).

(3) One writing sample of maximum 20 pages. 

Interviews are scheduled in the week of 21-25 February. Employment will become effective by 1 September 2022. Webversion of the job ad can be found here. To apply, please click here.

We run an interdisciplinary project “Values in Finance” that combines financial economics and the philosophy of economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam: https://www.eur.nl/en/research/erasmus-initiatives/dynamics-inclusive-prosperity/research-projects/values-finance

Within that project, we have a fully funded PhD position available, based in the Department of Finance at Rotterdam School of Management: https://www.erim.eur.nl/doctoral-programme/phd-in-management/phd-vacancies/values-in-finance/

The position would be an opportunity to work towards a PhD in financial economics at a top school, while also enjoying the context of an interdisciplinary research project that has a strong philosophy of economics component and enjoys close links to the “Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Economics” (EIPE), an international stronghold of the philosophy of economics in the last 25 years.

Do note this is a PhD in financial economics (and not philosophy), so a strong quantitative background and interest are a must.

For more information, please contact Dr. Conrad Heilmann, heilmann@esphil.eur.nl

The Institute of Public Administration of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs at Leiden University is looking for a post-doctoral researcher for the NORFACE-funded project  “Democratic Governance of Funded Pension Schemes” (DEEPEN). The position is for up to 3 years, with a start date  between September 1 and December 1, 2020.

The postdoc will be part of the research team at Leiden University, led by Dr. Natascha van der Zwan. Other research teams are based in Austria, Ireland and Spain. We’re looking for candidates with a PhD in political science, sociology, or related discipline. Candidates should also have a strong command of qualitative research methods. In addition to proficiency in English, a good command of Dutch is considered an important asset.

Deadline for applications is soon: *June 23, 2020*.

A full description of the position can be found here <https://nataschavanderzwan.com/2020/06/09/postdoc-for-deepen-project/>.

To apply, please use the Leiden University application portal <https://career012.successfactors.eu/career?_s.crb=gkRl6T%252bfNEZ9InAGuuUxS6knMFaVWIh5IZF%252fWRVXIKE%253d>.

The University of Gothenburg is looking to hire a 2-year postdoctoral researcher in economic ethics; that is, the application of moral or political philosophy to critical issues in business organizations or the economic system. The topic should be understood broadly so as to include subtopics like business ethics, professional ethics, ethics and economics, the political philosophy of markets, and the philosophy of economics.

The post doc will join the Financial Ethics Research Group under the direction of Professor Joakim Sandberg. The group is funded by the University of Gothenburg, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation, and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra). For more information about the group, see https://flov.gu.se/english/research/research-programs/financial-ethics

Subject area

Practical philosophy

Subject area description

Economic ethics is the application of concepts, methods and theories from practical philosophy to critical issues in business organizations and the economic system.

Job assignments

The position provides the postdoctoral researcher with an opportunity to solidify and develop his or her scientific skills through conducting research in economic ethics. He or she is expected to spend most of his or her employment on research. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with the rest of the research group, and he or she is expected to actively participate in group-related seminars, events and other activities. He or she is expected to carry out the vast majority of the research in Gothenburg and to participate in a regular and consistent manner in the department’s other relevant research activities. There is an additional possibility to assist in the educational development or teaching of a new M.A. programme in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) that is being planned at the department. However, such additional duties will not exceed 20 %.

Eligibility

Eligible for a postdoctoral position are those with a PhD or other foreign degree that is deemed equivalent to PhD. The subject of the doctoral thesis should be in a research area relevant to the subject description above. Since the postdoctoral position is intended to give junior researchers the opportunity to establish themselves in the field, we aim to employ applicants that graduated with PhDs within 3 years of the application deadline.

Assessment

Most emphasis will be put on research proficiency as it is demonstrated in the applicant’s PhD thesis, other publications and project plan. Emphasis will also be put on a documented ability to cooperate and strong skills in planning and organizing research as well as disseminating research results. Furthermore, we give priority to applicants whose project plan and prior work can strengthen the research group overall. The recruitment process may include interviews (possibly by video link) and contacting references.

Apply by

Please submit your application by 2020-06-01.

For more information

For further information about the position, including instructions on how to apply, please visit:

https://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/vacancies-details/?id=5703

Contact person

Joakim Sandberg, Project leader
joakim.sandberg@gu.se
https://flov.gu.se/english/research/research-programs/financial-ethics

The Hoover Chair in Economic and Social Ethics hosts every year a number of short-term post-doctoral fellows. This year 2020-21 we will offer:

– Honorary Hoover post-doctoral fellowships in the field of economic or social ethics. Honorary Hoover post-doctoral fellowships cover travel costs and up to EUR 500 for other expenses

– FAIR INHERITANCE, full post-doctoral fellowship, specifically devoted to research on fairness and inheritance. Fellows with no other source of income are offered an all-inclusive gross monthly stipend of EUR 2000 for a period not exceeding 4 months. Fellows on paid leave from their own institution are offered a contribution to their travel and housing expenses.

The selection committee will give special consideration to applications from underrepresented groups in academia (women, minorities and persons with disabilities) and from researchers who live in jurisdictions where academics face significant material or political constraints. Qualified researchers who correspond to this profile are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Privileges. All fellows will be full members of the Hoover Chair for the duration of their stay. They will be provided with office space, internet connection, free access to various other services, some secretarial assistance, and help in finding accommodation. They will be welcome to take an active part in the Hoover Chair’s activities and will have access to the University’s seminars, lectures and libraries.
• Eligibility. Candidates must be scholars from outside Belgium, who hold a doctorate or possess equivalent qualifications and are active in the field of economic or social ethics broadly conceived. Candidates to a full fellowship must have no professional income from other sources in the period concerned. Proficiency in either English or French is required, and at least a passive knowledge of both is desirable.
• Domain. Scholars with an active interest in the main research themes of the Hoover Chair’s members are particularly welcome. These themes include theories of social justice, theories of democracy, the institutional division of distributive labor, the potential and limits of corporate social responsibility, basic income and the future of the welfare state, the stigmatization of social categories, the destiny of the European Union, intergenerational justice, linguistic justice, democracy and solidarity in multinational polities, workplace democracy, ethical behaviour under extreme circumstances, social science research ethics, climate justice, etc. Many of them are illustrated in the essays contained in the volume Arguing about Justice, which can be downloaded free of charge.

* Applications must reach Dina Geron through e-mail with “Hoover post-doctoral fellowship” or “Inheritance post-doctoral fellowship” as subject no later than March 10 2020.

1. Fill in the form on this page.
2. Attach to your mail a short letter (in French or English) stating briefly your current research interests with regard to the Hoover Chair as well as your research plan for your stay at the Chair.
3. Also attach a detailed Curriculum Vitae.

In the Koselleck project Reflexive Rationality of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Spohn at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Konstanz a Research Position in Philosophy / Economics — either as Ph.D. position for 3 years (part time 65% E13) or as a Postdoc position for 2 years (full time 100% E13) — is to be filled at June 1, 2020, or at the earliest convenient date. An extension of this position is possible.

The Koselleck project is about the following issues: The paradigm of homo oeconomicus, as explicated in modern decision and game theory, shapes extensive parts of our social sciences. These theories count as delivering a basically complete normative ideal and hence serve as the critical reference point of behavioral, psycho-, and neuroeconomics, which attempt to overcome the empirical deficiencies of those theories. In contrast to this mainstream, the present project takes game and decision theory to be normatively deficient and thus attempts to improve the normative ideal of a homo oeconomicus and to thereby shift the point of attack of empirical criticism. The project does so by rigorously theorizing ‘reflexive ascent’. According to it, a person considers not only her possible actions and their possible consequences, but also her possible (future) decision situations, which entail those actions. This will provide a systematization of so-called dynamic choice, a systematic treatment of (pre-)commitment and self-binding, and in particular a new fundamental equilibrium concept for game theory, which promises a novel treatment of cooperation and indeed a unification of non-cooperative and cooperative game theory.

A more detailed description of the Koselleck project is found here. Applicants are requested to study this description. The researcher is supposed to contribute in particular to section 3 of that description. This requires competences in microeconomics, decision theory, and/or (practical) philosophy and, by the time the position starts, a master*s degree for the Ph.D. position or a Ph.D. for the postdoc position. He or she will be well embedded not only at the Department of Philosophy, but also at the Department of Economics (Prof. Dr. Urs Fischbacher); he or she will be associated to the Graduate School of Decision Sciences and will find an outstanding research environment at our excellence university.

Applications including a CV, a letter of motivation, a list of publications, possibly a writing sample and a list of courses taught, and copies of academic degree certificates are to be submitted via this application portal no later than February 29, 2020. He is also responsive to any questions concerning this position. For any questions concerning this position please contact Prof. Spohn: wolfgang.spohn@uni-konstanz.de

UCLouvain invites applications for a tenure track or tenured full time position in Economic and Social Ethics at the Hoover Chair of Economic and Social Ethics. More info: https://jobs.uclouvain.be/PersonnelAcademique/job/An-academic-position-in-Economic-and-Social-Ethics-%281-EFT%29/560236701/

The successful candidate will have teaching assignments in the field of economic and social ethics, i.e. political philosophy understood as a normative discipline concerned with all aspects of social institutions and social life, with special emphasis on the economic dimension.

The successful candidate will develop and drive a cutting-edge research program principally in the field of economic and social ethics. More specifically, the successful candidate will actively collaborate with economists, political scientists, sociologists, legal scholars or researchers in any relevant disciplines.

Next to her/his research and teaching activities, the successful candidate will need to contribute actively to the twofold mission of the Hoover Chair of economic and social ethics, namely (1) to stimulate ethical reflection in the research and teaching of the Faculty of economic, social, political and communication sciences of the University; and (2) to contribute to a clear and well informed public debate, in Belgium and beyond, about the ethical issues that arise in our society in the various areas covered by the Faculty’s disciplines.

Application deadline: 15th November, 2019

Starting date:  1^st September, 2020 Continue reading →