14 Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Positions in The History of Human Freedom and Dignity in Western Civilization, Europe (2016)

The Marie Curie ITN HHFDWC (“The History of Human Freedom and Dignity in Western Civilization”) – a collaboration between 6 universities and 9 non-academic partner organizations across Europe – invites applications for 14 full-time, three-year Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions. The ITN offers an interdisciplinary environment and an innovative training program that allows the ESRs to obtain specialist knowledge of a specific research topic as well as transferable skills that can be used in non-academic institutions.

Project description
The research project will trace the historical roots and transformations of the modern conception of the human being and the human values of dignity and freedom, especially in theological and philosophical traditions. In modern western societies, the ideal human being has the right to think, believe, and express itself freely without fearing retribution and to be treated as an autonomous and dignified individual. But such a conception is not shared by all – and never was. Its long history has been formed through a continuous battle between two theological and philosophical traditions going back to Origen of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo, respectively. Origen saw humans as free, valuable, and dignified beings, while Augustine saw them as predestined, sinful, and bound to servitude. The project will continuously circle around this battle between the opposing negative and positive views on humanity that we can encounter in various contexts from antiquity to modern times. By unlocking the patterns of reception they, in turn, can be used as a hermeneutical key to understand later, modern debates of human freedom, free will, and dignity. Thereby, the project will raise awareness of how ancient philosophical and religious tenets still shape political, moral, and anthropological categories and modes of thinking as well as principles of human conduct. See below for the specific subproject titles.

Requirements
Before initiating the program, eligible candidates must hold an internationally-recognized Master’s or an equivalent degree, which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate, in theology, history, philosophy, classics, religious history, or a related field. They must have less than four years of research experience after their candidate degree. The selection committee will seek gender equality among the recruited ESRs, and researchers can be of any nationality. However, eligible candidates have not resided more than 12 of the last 36 months in the country where the PhD is located for which they apply. ESRs are required to undertake transnational mobility as they will complete secondments with one of the nine non-academic partners as well as at one of the other European universities. Applicants should demonstrate evidence of effective communication skills in English, both written and oral. See more on our website www.itn-humanfreedom.eu.

One or more of the ESR positions can be applied for. Applicants must enclose a diploma or documentation for submitting his/her Master’s thesis (or equivalent) for assessment by the deadline for application and must have been awarded the degree before starting the program. Each application (even if more positions are applied for) must contain a two-page CV, proof of English language skills, a transcript of grades, a Master’s degree diploma (or equivalent) or evidence of its completion before initiating the program, as well as a project description not exceeding two A4 pages of 2,400 characters each. This description should include an explanation of your motivation for applying for this particular project and outline how the relevant research project is envisaged.

Further details:
http://www.jobs.ac.uk