The candidate has:
1. a Master’s or Research Master’s degree in Philosophy (or another relevant subject with an adequate, demonstrated background in the history of philosophy), obtained with excellent study results, and meets the admission requirements of the PhD program of the Institute of Philosophy. Further information on the requirements for admission to the doctoral programme can be found on this webpage: https://hiw.kuleuven.be/en/research/phd/doctoralprogramme
2. knowledge of Latin and/or appropriate vernacular languages of the medieval sources
3. good command of academic English
The candidate is:
4. prepared to acquire a deeper background in medieval philosophy
5. aware that some knowledge of contemporary philosophy is considered a plus and is prepared to acquire a deeper knowledge of contemporary philosophy in the areas relevant for their project
6. motivated to contribute to the overall goals of the project as a team player
We currently invite applications for a PhD-candidate (4 years). The successful candidate will carry out research in the context of the project “The Metaphysics of Social Groups in Late Medieval Philosophy”. The project’s aim is to study the late medieval contribution to the metaphysical foundations of different types of social groups in philosophical-theological sources by male and female authors in the Latin Christian tradition. The PI of the project is Jenny Pelletier (KU Leuven).
The successful candidate will prepare a dissertation that focuses on metaphysical aspects of any one of the following social groups: racial/ized or ethnic groups, familial groups (i.e. households, families, marriages), political groups (i.e. kingdoms, cities, empires), or religious groups (e.g. the Church, religious orders, non-Christian religious groups). Candidates with a proposal concerning corporations, guilds, and associations, are also welcome to apply. Aspects to consider can include the nature and origin of the social group; attributions of agency, intentionality, and moral responsibility to the social group; the role of norms in that social group.
The successful candidate will conduct the research leading to their own PhD within the aims of the project. They will be expected to participate in the organization of common activities related to the project, such as team meetings, presentations, and conferences, and in the broader research activities of the De Wulf-Mansion Centre for Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies where the project is embedded.
The successful candidate will be employed at KU Leuven under the standard conditions. KU Leuven provides training opportunities, social and health benefits, and office space. Remote working is possible within the rules of KU Leuven insofar as it does not interfere with the necessities of functioning as a team member.