Two PhD positions in the History of Modern Philosophy and/or History and Philosophy of Science

Two four-year PhD positions in the history of modern philosophy and/or history and philosophy of science. The selected applicants will carry out part of the project RESPONSES TO NEWTON’S MATHEMATICAL-EXPERIMENTAL PARADIGM IN 18TH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHY (RENEW18). The project is funded by the Belgian research councils FWO and F.R.S.-FNRS (EOS) and led by Karin de Boer (KU Leuven), Steffen Ducheyne (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), and Arnaud Pelletier (Université libre de Bruxelles).

 

Deadline: 1 June 2023

Preferred starting date: September 2023

 

Projects

 

1. KU Leuven / supervisor Karin de Boer: Responses to Newton in 18th-century German philosophy. All proposals on developments and/or debates in 18th-century German philosophy related to the impact of Newton’s mathematical-experimental paradigm will be taken into consideration as long as they fit within the scope of RENEW18. URL=<https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60091580?hl=en&lang=en>.

 

2. Vrije Universiteit Brussel / supervisor Steffen Ducheyne: Resistance to Newton in the Dutch Republic. Proposals on related debates in 18th-century Dutch Republic will be taken into consideration as long as they fit within the scope of RENEW18. URL=<https://jobs.vub.be/job/Elsene-PhD-Scholarship-&apos;Resistance-to-Isaac-Newton-in-the-Dutch-Republic&apos;/851351301/>

              

Summary

 

RENEW18 aims to bring into focus the widely divergent responses to the mathematical-experimental paradigm elaborated in Newton’s Principia mathematica (1687) and Opticks (1704) on the part of 18th-century philosophers. The project studies the direct and indirect effects of Newton’s works on philosophers who drew from Aristotelian, Cartesian, Leibnizian, and Wolffian sources, covers the period between 1700 and 1800, treats developments in the Dutch Republic, England, France, and Germany, and foregrounds the impact of non-canonical authors and movements on canonical authors and the other way around.

In addition to carrying out one of the designated subprojects, the selected applicants are expected to participate in (the organization of) common activities such as team meetings, talks, workshops, and conferences. We seek to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender or cultural background. If you would like to apply but are unsure whether your ideas and expertise sufficiently match one of the project descriptions above, please contact one of the principal investigators. It is allowed to apply for more than one position. A later starting date can be taken into consideration.

The PhD fellowships provide for training opportunities, health benefits, office space, and a generous research budget.

 

More information on the project can be found at https://hiw.kuleuven.be/cmprpc/renew18.