The working section Praktische Philosophie of the Institute of Philosophy is looking for
One or two student research assistants in Philosophy in the Research Project "Basic Needs and Intergenerational Climate Justice" (https://basicneeds.uni-graz.at/en/the-project/)
(5 or 10 hours a week; fixed-term employment for the period of 12 months; position to be filled preferably starting July 1st 2021 in Graz, Austria)
The project (funded by the Austrian Science Foundation) investigates the topic of climate justice from a normative perspective and will make our outcomes more concrete by also incorporating findings from the field of economics.
The project’s main question is: Do we owe future generations to adopt additional measures against climate change and its harmful consequences? And if yes, to what extent and in which way? Climate change is characterized by a temporally unequal distribution of benefits and costs. While most of the advantages of emission-generating activities are derived by currently living people, most of the harms that these activities cause will only materialize in the (distant) future. There is thus strong reason for considering climate change a matter of intergenerational justice. The most pressing question of intergenerational climate justice concerns the present generation’s relation to future generations.
Scholars have addressed this question from the perspectives of various principles of intergenerational justice. There is one plausible principle that has so far been widely neglected, though. According to this principle, the present generation ought to enable future generations to meet their basic needs — for example, their needs for water, food and health. The aim of our project is to contribute to assessing states’ climate-related intergenerational duties of justice from the perspective of this particular principle.
The student research assistant will support the project leader and postdoc by researching literature, compiling a database of works on Intergenerational Climate Justice and empirical research findings on the cases, formatting papers for publication and the planned edited volume(s) and/or special issue(s), organizing the international workshop and conference, maintaining the internet platform of the project, and, continually documenting the work done by team members on the public project website.
Applicants must be enrolled in a philosophy, history, law, cultural anthropology, Jewish studies or social science study programme (at the level of BA or preferably MA or equivalent) at the University of Graz, preferably in a philosophy programme. Good knowledge in English (at level C1 or higher) is expected. Preferably applicants plan to write a BA or Master thesis on philosophical aspects of intergenerational climate justice.
The applications have to contain the following documents in pdf format:
- a motivation letter
- an abstract in English of the BA or Master thesis in preparation
- a Curriculum Vitae including information on previous work experience, evidence for knowledge in English
- transcript of records
- up to three names of persons who may be asked for letters of recommendation
The selection procedure will commence immediately after the application deadline. All communication, including interviews, will be conducted in English.
For further information, please contact Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lukas H. Meyer, (lukas.meyer(at)uni-graz.at)
Application Deadline: June 4th 2021
The University of Graz strives to increase the proportion of women and therefore encourages qualified women to apply.
If you are interested, please submit your application documents as pdf files within the stated deadline per email to: kanita.kovacevic@uni-graz.at
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
Institut für Philosophie
Attemsgasse 25/II
8010 Graz
Austria