Professor in Practical Philosophy with Focus on Ethics

The Faculty of Humanities employs just under a thousand employees, and approximately 8,000 students study there. The faculty consists of eight departments: Philosophy, Dutch Studies, Media Studies, Arts and Culture, History, European Studies and Religious Studies, Amsterdam Center for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, Modern Foreign Languages and Cultures, and Literary Studies and Linguistics. Each department is made up of capacity groups, which consist of one or more professors and a number of employees who work in the relevant field.

The Department of Philosophy is currently looking for a professor in Practical Philosophy with focus on ethics (1,0 fte, permanent position).

What are you going to do?

Context of the chair

The successful candidate will be the Chair of the Capacity Group Philosophy and Public Affairs  (PPA). PPA examines classical questions in the area of practical philosophy, such as the foundations of ethics and sociopolitical philosophy, in light of new and topical problems. It is one of the four capacity groups at the Department of Philosophy alongside Logic & Language (chaired by Arianna Betti), Philosophical Tradition in Context (chaired by Mari Mikkola), and Critical Cultural Theory (chaired by Monique Roelofs). PPA has seven permanent staff members, and a number of temporary lecturers and assistants. Overall, the Department of Philosophy has around 50 permanent and temporary staff members, whose philosophical interests and expertise are wideranging and cross disciplinary boundaries. 

We are looking for an experienced candidate with a strong background in practical philosophy, particularly with a focus on ethics. They are expected to work in the core area of ethics, but in a way that is grounded in, reflective of, and sensitive to practical questions, issues, and matters. They are expected to do theoretical and critical work in ethics, while reflectively engaging with societal, political, and practical considerations. It is expected that the successful postholder has a strong international profile and networks, and a background in interdisciplinary collaborations.

Possible lines of specializations that we are interested in, though not limited to, include:  

• climate ethics;
• ethics of technology and humane AI;

• feminist ethics;
• ability to contribute to ethical questions and debates relevant for STS;
• ability to contribute to debates relevant for the Sectorplan for Dutch Humanities (e.g. ethical considerations generated by social identity categories like gender and race understood intersectionally).

Further desirable qualities include: being able to combine different philosophical approaches in/ on ethics, and being able to connect historical and contemporary debates.We welcome applicants who can consider debates in practical philosophy from perspectives that are relevant for social and cultural identities, such as (though not limited to) post-colonial, feminist, anti-racist, non-western, and/or non-ableist perspectives. 

Teaching

The successful candidate will provide education in a dynamic context with ample opportunities for the development of innovative teaching methods. They will assume important duties in overseeing and supporting, together with others, the coordination of large introductory BA courses in ethics and practical philosophy at the department of philosophy, as well as various minors with a component of practical philosophy. The postholder is also expected to teach specialisation courses in ethics at BA level, though the precise topics will depend on their specific areas of expertise.

The postholder will further oversee the realising and staffing of the MA course offer, insofar as it is taught by members of the PPA capacity group. This program consists of research-intensive courses in the field of practical philosophy, including ethics, political and social philosophy, critical theory, philosophy of technology, and philosophy of race, gender, and class. The successful candidate will be expected to lecture an MA course in the field of their own research, and to supervise and assess a number of MA-theses each year. Further occasions for participating in tutoring, guest lecturing, and other educational duties will be possible as well.

We are looking for an inspiring teacher that has experience in building and safeguarding a welcoming, inclusive teaching environment.

Research

The successful candidate will conduct research within the Amsterdam School of Cultural Analysis (ASCA), one of the five research schools of the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research . ASCA is home to more than 100 researchers and more than 140 PhD candidates, and conducts world-leading research in Cultural Analysis. ASCA researchers share a commitment to studying culture in all its forms and expressions within an interdisciplinary framework, and to maintaining a close connection with contemporary cultural and political debates. All ASCA research fits into at least one, but usually more than one of five thematic constellations: 1) Mediality; 2) Arts & Aesthetics; 3) Globalization & Migration; 4) Identities; and 5) Cultural & Social Critique.

In addition, the postholder is expected to be responsible for setting up broad interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers within the Faculty of Humanities and UvA, leading to individual or consortium applications for research funding (e.g. ERC, NWO, NWA). It is expected that the succesful candidate will provide innovative new research impulses for ASCA and the Faculty of Humanities. Since ethical questions and issues are important for a number of different disciplines, the postholder is expected to have a demonstrable ability to establish productive connections with other disciplines within as well as outside the department. Number of such issues pertain to the themes outlined in the ‘Sectorplan ’ for Humanities in Dutch universities, such as AI and cultural identities. It is desirable that the successful candidate be able to contribute to these themes in a productive manner. Moreover, as new ethical questions come to the fore given societal developments, the postholder should have a disciplinary outlook that enables them to connect ethical discussions to questions addressed more broadly in practical philosophy.

Leadership

The successful candidate will chair the Capacity Group Philosophy and Public Affairs  (PPA). In this role, they are expected to have regular meetings with the Head of Department and the Chairs of the other three capacity groups (Logic & Language, Philosophical Tradition in Context, and Critical Cultural Theory). The successful candidate is also expected to coordinate every year the assignment of teaching tasks to the group both with the staff, the BA- and MA-directors, and the administration. The managerial duties also include taking up further roles in the department such as the Head of Department, as well as various tasks at the Faculty and ASCA. Given the desire to create an environment for employees and students that is safe and inclusive, it is important for the successful candidate to be organizationally sensitive and exercise appropriate leadership style.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• teaching within the field of Philosophy, including supervising Bachelor and Master theses, as well as PhD candidates;
• contributing to innovation and improvement of the curriculum;
• actively contributing to the development and improvement of the broader teaching programmes in the department;
• actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, on national as well as European level;
• conducting research, keeping track of relevant literature and integrate new research insights into teaching;
• carrying out HR responsibilities within the chair group PPA;
• carrying out departmental administrative and management tasks;

What do you have to offer?

The succesful candidate is expected to take an active role in the whole spectrum of activities of the Department of Philosophy, ranging from teaching and research to administration. They are also expected to contribute significantly to academic as well public debates. They will be a team player and have exquisite social skills. The department would like to welcome a creative and open-minded philosopher who is at home in a diverse community of academics.

Your experience and profile:

• PhD in philosophy;
• excellent international academic reputation and publication track record;
• experienced and enthusiastic teacher at all levels of academic training and experience in developing teaching programmes at Bachelor and Master levels;
• demonstrable excellent management and leadership qualities and a capable and enthusiastic administrator;
• strong track record of acquiring external research funding;
• experience with attracting and supervising PhD projects and junior researchers;
• extensive national and international network with academic, political and cultural institutions;
• experience with collaborative projects and able to establish productive connections with other academic disciplines within as well as outside the department;
• able to contribute to knowledge exchange in public as well as academic settings.
• a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If you have not attained a UTQ you are required to start with the UTQ track upon commencement of your employment contract and obtain the qualification within three years of employment.

• good command of Dutch and English. If you do not speak Dutch, an active and passive command must be acquired within the first two years of employment and the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language programme II must be passed. The Faculty will assist in this process.

Please also check the document ‘Information about chairs at the Faculty of Humanities ’ for more information.

We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and are especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and/or service, to this mission. We particularly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply.

What can we offer you?

Upon appointment permanent employment is offered. The employment contract is for 38 hours per week. The preferred starting date is 01 February 2025.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week, is in accordance with professor salary scale 2, € 6,648 to € 9,680 (€ 92,779 to € 135,094 gross per year including the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance). A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

In certain cases, different terms of employment can be offered.

What else do we offer?

• the opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams;
• excellent opportunities for study and personal development;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.
• the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that - partly as a result of their interdisciplinary approach - are world renowned.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in the field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the position or the department, please contact during office hours:

Prof. dr. Mari Mikkola [email protected]

Head of Department

Job Application

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the link below. We will accept applications until the 23rd of April. Only complete applications received within the response period will be considered.

Your application should include the following information (in English):

• a motivation letter
• a detailed CV including a list of publications.

Please submit the required information in 1 pdf by uploading in the required field ‘CV’.

The first round of interviews will likely be held in June 2024. A trial lecture may be part of the application process.

UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please.