PhD position in Capabilities and diversity in ethics of technology

Key takeaways

The aim of this research project is to develop an approach for ethically assessing the disruptive impact of technologies on individuals. The project centers on two key ideas. The first is that the personal interests of individuals center on not only the protection of rights, but also on support for the development of capabilities. Therefore, we need to develop an ethics of capability development in relation to technology. This approach should consider various impact dimensions of technology on human capabilities – both positive and negative – and should develop approaches for ethically assessing these dimensions. For example, impacts on health, social relations, cognition and learning, self-understanding, work and play, etc.

The second key idea is that one should take into account human diversity in ethically assessing capabilities. Ethics –including ethics of technology– too often assumes a generic individual with generic needs and capabilities, as the subject of ethical analysis. We need an ethics of diversity and technology that considers human differences, both social, psychological and physiological, and allows us to identify and analyze ethical issues in relation to different individuals and groups, rather than “the human being” in general. But what kinds of diversity are relevant for ethical analysis may differ for different technologies and contexts of application, which should also be taken into account. The objective, then, is to develop a context-sensitive ethics of diversity that is able to take into account differential impacts of technology on human capabilities, and that supports equality, equity and inclusion.

To connect these key ideas, the candidate might consider capability approaches to technology such as capability sensitive design, intersectional theory and critical disability studies, as well as extension theories of technology to come to a deeper understanding of human diversity and the ways in which technology could disrupt people’s capabilities differently with different impacts.

While the emphasis is on developing a theoretical and methodological framework for ethically assessing disruptive effects of technology on individuals, there will be (smaller) case studies to develop and (empirically) test this approach. In a concluding chapter, implications for engineering design and technology policy can also be touched upon.

This project will be supervised by dr. Naomi Jacobs (first daily supervisor), dr. Janna van Grunsven (second daily supervisor) and prof. dr. Philip Brey (promotor).

The challenge

This PhD position will be part of the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies programme, a ten-year long international research programme of seven academic institutions in the Netherlands. This programme is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research in the Gravitation funding scheme for excellent research, and by matching funds from the participating institutions. The programme aims to achieve breakthrough research  at the intersection of ethics, philosophy, technology/engineering and social sciences, and to position its consortium at the top of its field internationally. A key objective is to investigate how new technologies challenge moral values and ontological concepts (like “nature”, “human being” and “community”), and how these challenges necessitate a revision of these concepts. The programme includes four research lines, “Nature, life and human intervention”, “The future of a free and fair society”, “The Human Condition” and “Synthesis: Ethics of Technology, Practical Philosophy, and Modern Technology-Driven Societies”.

Are you interested to be part of our team? Please submit your application no later than the 11th of June 2024 and include:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position;
• A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references;
• A writing sample (e.g. Master’s thesis/chapter) that reflects your suitability for this position

Additional information can be acquired via email from dr. Naomi Jacobs ([email protected]).

The Philosophy section of the University of Twente (https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/wijsb/) is internationally leading in the philosophy and ethics of technology. It currently includes eighteen tenured and tenure-track staff members, four postdocs and fifteen PhD students. The section participates in the interuniversity 4TU.Center for Ethics and Technology (www.ethicsandtechnology.eu). Both the section and the Center have a strong international orientation and include members from many different nationalities.

The Philosophy section is part of the department of Technology, Policy and Society (TPS), where we engage in research and education on the interplay between technology, society and policy, helping stakeholders to manage the opportunities and tensions between (new) technologies and changing societal needs.

The TPS department is dedicated to encouraging a supportive and inclusive working culture. Our aim is that all job applicants are given equal opportunities.. To support the workforce diversity, we are open to offer flexible working conditions on an individual basis to support work-life balance, that may include contract of employment, working hours and location, or child care arrangements.

The Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social sciences (BMS) aims to play a key role in understanding, jointly developing and evaluating innovations in society. Technological developments are the engine of innovation. As a technical university that puts people first, we tailor them to human needs and behavior and use social engineering to integrate them into society. We also ensure adequate governance at public and private level, and robust, inclusive and fair organizational structures. We do this by developing, sharing and applying high-quality knowledge in Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences and Health Sciences. Our research and education in these disciplines revolves around tackling and solving societal challenges. The research programs of BMS are closely linked to the research of the UT institutes Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

As an employer, the Faculty of BMS offers work that matters. We equip you to create new possibilities for yourself and for our society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact. We offer an open, inclusive and entrepreneurial atmosphere, in which we encourage you to make healthy choices, for example through our flexible, adaptable benefits.