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Please Note - During the interview, the selection board will verify that the candidate has the necessary fundamental knowledge and skills for attending the doctoral course and assess the eligibility for those scholarships which may be based on specific research themes.

Deadline for application: June 9th, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. CEST

NEW!! n. 11 positions available, of which:

- n. 2 positions funded by Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia on the project FIS2 Consolidator Grant ‘Humanizing Mathematical Knowledge: Fallibility, Technology, Know-How’ (FIS-2023-04053; PI: Silvia De Toffoli) on the topic Fallibility, Technology, Know-How, CUP: I53C24003170001.
This project's primary goal is to provide a multifaceted theory of mathematical knowledge and justification that makes sense of how knowledge is produced and shared among human agents. It also considers the philosophical ramifications linked to the use of new technologies, both in mathematics and other areas of rational inquiry. The research may concern topics in analytic philosophy, including philosophy of mathematics, epistemology (and, in particular, social epistemology), metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of technology.

- n. 1 position funded by Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia on the project FIS2 Starting Grant ‘Severe Uncertainty: Decisions, Evidence, and Probability’ (FIS-2023-01696; PI: Luca Zanetti), on the topic Epistemic Risk: Probability, Knowledge, Decisions, CUP: I53C25000600001
The project will develop an innovative framework for understanding non-quantifiable uncertainty by integrating approaches from the philosophy of science, formal and social epistemology, and decision theory. The project has three main goals: to interpret uncertainty as disagreement, to articulate a new conception of risk and uncertainty as collective attitudes, and to explore new strategies for managing severe uncertainty in decision-making. The research will focus on the contemporary debate on epistemic risk, including formal approaches to epistemic risk. Possible research topics include, but are not limited to: risk-based approaches to the analysis of knowledge, alternative conceptions of epistemic risk (probabilistic, modal, and normic), decisions in conditions of risk and uncertainty, risk aversion, epistemic decision theory, disagreement, permissivism, and epistemic pluralism.

- n. 1 position funded by Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia on the project FIS2 Starting Grant ‘Severe Uncertainty: Decisions, Evidence, and Probability’ (FIS-2023-01696; PI: Luca Zanetti) on the topic Inductive Risk: Communication, Values, Decision-making, CUP: I53C25000600001
The project will develop an innovative framework for understanding non-quantifiable uncertainty by integrating approaches from the philosophy of science, formal and social epistemology, and decision theory. The project has three main goals: to interpret uncertainty as disagreement, to articulate a new conception of risk and uncertainty as collective attitudes, and to explore new strategies for managing severe uncertainty in decision-making. The research will focus on the contemporary debate on inductive risk in the philosophy of science, including the role of non-epistemic values in science, the value-free ideal, risk perception and risk communication, scientific advising, and policy-making.

- n. 3 positions funded by Università degli studi di Milano

- n. 1 position funded by Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa

NEW!!

- n. 3 positions funded by Università degli Studi di Milano on the project FIS2 Advanced Grant “The Normative Roots of Social Kinds” (NORSK) (FIS2023-01216; PI: Francesco Guala, CUP: G53C24001390001), on the following topics:

1. The Ontology and Epistemology of Normative Kinds. Many social categories are used not only to predict and explain social events but also to regulate and control people’s behaviour. The NORSK project studies the relationship between these two functions and tries to understand how social kinds can simultaneously be real and normative. Candidates should be informed about one or more of the following topics: the ontology of natural and social kinds; social constructionism vs. realism; measurement in science and society; reflexivity and performativity; the politics of classification; the role of values in science and ontology; ameliorative metaphysics. The recipient of the scholarship will be expected to develop at least one case study from classic social science – such as money, unemployment, kinship, or castes – and use it to explore philosophical theories about the ontology and epistemology of kinds.

2. The Phylogenesis and Ontogenesis of Commitment. Cooperation requires us to rely on each other to maintain commitment to shared goals in the face of temptations and distractions. Taking a comparative perspective, NORSK will study the phylogenetic and ontogenetic origins of the capacity to form and maintain commitments in joint action. The recipient of the scholarship will collaborate with the team at Unimi and with our external collaborators in developing and implementing either fieldwork or a lab-based paradigm to enable cross-species comparisons involving (i) canids, (ii) non-human primates, or (iii) human children. Candidates are expected to have a background in comparative or development research, and should have some experience working with one of these groups. It is also an advantage to have video coding skills using software such as Elan, Boris or Observer.

3. Institutions, Commitments, and Norms. The NORSK project studies the cognitive and motivational mechanisms through which normative attitudes stabilise institutions and social categories. The recipient of the scholarship will contribute to theoretical and/or empirical research which may involve case studies from classic social science and/or laboratory testing involving (i) canids, (ii) non-human primates, or (iii) human children. For candidates interested in a more theoretical project, it is advantageous to be informed about one or more of the following topics: the ontology of natural and social kinds; social constructionism vs. realism; measurement in science and society; reflexivity and performativity; the politics of classification; the role of values in science and ontology; ameliorative metaphysics. For candidates interested in a more experimental project, it is advantageous to have programming and/or stats skills, and/or to have experience working with canids, non-human primates or human adults or children

Test schedule

The results about the evaluation process will be published on the IUSS website http://www.iusspavia.it.
The interviews will be held starting 2/07/2025 at 14:30 CEST in presence at IUSS School, or remotely via Zoom.

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