PostDoc wanted for research on valuing future lives

The Institute for Futures Studies is looking for a postdoc to be part of a research project on valuing future lives. The applicant needs to hold a PhD degree on a relevant philosophical topic when the employment starts. The project is directed by Professor Krister Bykvist (Philosophy).

The main question for this project is how to value future lives when making decisions. This question has up to now been largely ignored by policy-makers, despite the fact that it is directly relevant to some extremely important practical problems, such as population control (taxation, parental leave), prioritisation in health care, climate change, and existential risk (risk of extinction of animal species and humanity). In order to solve these practical problems, we need to consider certain difficult theoretical questions, e.g. ‘Would it be good or bad if less people (or animals) existed in the future?’ and ‘Can an increase in population size compensate for a decrease individual well-being?’

The question of how to value population-changes has turned out to be extremely difficult from a theoretical point of view. We think that in order to move forward we need to question some fundamental substantive or methodological principles, often taken for granted in the debate. Rejecting or revising some of these assumptions holds the key to formulating an adequate population ethics. The project therefore aims to critically assess some of the most important assumptions by bringing together some of the world-leading philosophers and economists in this area so that they can make collaborative progress on population ethics.
Find a more detailed description of the research project here

This is a two-year appointment with a starting date of September 1 2015 (or as soon thereafter as possible), but the appointment may be extended by a year. The starting salary is 35000-38000 SEK per month.

The successful candidate is expected to spend 70 % of his or her time on research on a topic relevant to the main project. Research expertise in a relevant topic is therefore an especially important assessment criterion. 30 % of the time will be spent on more administrative tasks, such as planning and organizing of conferences and workshops, and editing of books and papers on population ethics.

Emphasis will also be paid to administrative experience (including management skills) and the ability to interact with community at large, as well as to inform of scholarly activities and developments in the field of population ethics. We need a letter of application, a research proposal (maximum 3 pages) that outlines the research you intend to conduct and how that will relate to the research program, an up-to-date CV, three examples of your written work, and names and contact information of three persons who are familiar with you and your work.

Please send your application to [email protected] no later than 18 May, 2015. Interviews (if necessary) will take place in the end of May, 2015, either in Stockholm or via Skype.

Further information regarding this position may be obtained from Krister Bykvist, [email protected].

For this position we already have the recruitment support we need, and ask that you do not contact us in this matter.