The Faculty of Philosophy, Leiden University, offers one postdoctoral fellowship and two PhD fellowships within the NWO-funded research programme, Philosophical Foundations of the Historiography of Science. The programme leader is Dr. James W. McAllister. The positions are available from 15 August 2008.

General project information

This research programme focuses on the assumptions and methodology of the writing of history of science. History of science is a flourishing discipline in many respects: it currently yields an impressive volume of studies. Systematic reflection about the ways in which history of science may and ought to be written, however, has not kept pace with this growth. This programme formulates three conceptual problems of historiography of science and aims to propose new solutions to them. First, how should the resistance of the world to scientists’ theories be conceptualized in historical accounts of science? Second, is it possible to provide a basis for assessments of past science in terms of adequacy and validity, without relinquishing the sensitivity of the best historiography of science? Third, how is it possible to reconcile the intuition that scientific knowledge can transcend the conditions of its production with the acknowledgement of the contingent and contextual nature of scientific work?

The research programme examines historiography of science from philosophical perspectives. We are looking for ambitious scholars with a passion for the combined discipline of history and philosophy of science, able to move easily from philosophical analysis to an appreciation and evaluation of historical findings. The research programme consists of three projects: Project 1, The Resistance of the World (PhD fellow); Project 2, Assessments of Past Science (PhD fellow); and Project 3, Autonomy and Objectivity (postdoctoral fellow).

Position for a PhD fellow, f/m (38 hours a week) for

Project 1, The Resistance of the World

Vacancy number: 8-125

Virtually every historian of science working today acknowledges that the world plays a part in determining scientists’ conclusions. There is less clarity and consensus about the ways in which the resistance of the world to scientists’ proposals can and should be conceptualized in historiography of science. How, in historians’ accounts, does the world come to influence the trajectory of science? How do historians portray this influence as being mediated, partly overridden or otherwise affected by what are known as “social factors”? Project 1 will address these issues. This project will construct an inventory of possible conceptions of the resistance of the world to scientists’ proposals, give a philosophical discussion of the merits and shortcomings of each, evaluate the existing history of science literature for its use of these conceptions, develop an overall philosophical account of how the resistance of the world to scientists’ claims and theories should be conceived, and discuss how this account can be implemented in historiography.

Position for a PhD fellow, f/m, 38 hours per week

for Project 2, Assessments of Past Science

Vacancy number: 8-126

In recent decades, Whiggish historiography has been rejected for contextual and historicist approaches. There is no doubt that this change has yielded more sensitive and convincing accounts of past science. However, the emphasis on the reconstruction of the actors’ categories has meant that questions about the adequacy or validity of past contributions to science have been removed from the scope of history of science: most historians of science now shrink from attributing mistakes of observation, reasoning or interpretation to past scientists. Does the rejection of Whiggish historiography necessarily mean that normativity must be abandoned too, or can evaluation be combined with description? Project 2 will investigate whether it is possible to formulate a new conceptual foundation for evaluations in historiography of science, without relinquishing the sensitivity of the best recent work in the discipline. This project will look at issues including principles of charity, anachronism, and retrospective explanation.

The successful candidate for each of the above positions:

• has an excellent academic track record, including an MA degree or equivalent in philosophy of science, history of science, or a related field;
• has a thorough knowledge of recent trends in historiography of science and of relevant debates in philosophy of science and social studies of science;
• has a demonstrable affinity with the research programme and the potential to develop into an independent academic researcher;
• is highly motivated to follow the PhD programme of the Faculty of Philosophy, Leiden University, and is committed to completing the dissertation within four years;
• has a good, active command of spoken and written English.

Position for a postdoctoral fellow, f/m, 38 hours a week,

for Project 3, Autonomy and Objectivity

Vacancy number: 8-127

Much present-day historiography of science is devoted to uncovering the contingent and contextual origins of scientific knowledge. Many scientists themselves, however, claim universal and objective validity for their findings. It falls within the scope of history of science to evaluate and resolve the tension between these intuitions. Previous work in historiography of science has attempted to bridge the gap between the particularity of production and the validity of completed science by invoking such processes as replication, standardisation, and circulation. Project 3 is motivated by the working hypothesis that the concept of autonomy offers a new resolution of the tension. Whereas older theories of autonomy emphasized detachment and insulation from a social setting, newer debates have sketched a view of autonomy as an embodied and socially embedded character of the subject. This project will draw on these debates to construct a new account of the autonomy of scientists and science.

The successful candidate for this position:

• has an excellent academic track record, including a PhD degree in philosophy of science, history of science, or a related field;
• has a thorough knowledge of recent trends in historiography of science and of relevant debates in philosophy of science and social studies of science;
• is an enthusiastic, independent academic researcher with a demonstrable affinity with the research programme;
• is motivated to complete a number of substantial publications on the theme of the research programme within three years;
• has a good, active command of spoken and written English.

Terms of employment

The position of PhD fellow is usually full-time (38 hours per week), temporary and is tenable for a period of one year initially with a possible extension, in case of satisfactory progress, for a maximum of a further three years. The PhD fellow will devote approximately 80% of her or his working time to research, and 20% to undergoing training and to teaching. The PhD fellow must be able and willing to give lecture courses and lead seminars on topics within her or his specialisation at BA and MA level. The salary of the PhD fellow is € 2.000,– gross per month in the first year, increasing to € 2.612,– gross per month in the fourth year, based on full-time employment (in accordance with current salary scales as set out in the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities).

The position of postdoctoral fellow is temporary, full-time (38 hours per week) for a maximum period of three years. The postdoctoral fellow will devote approximately 80% of her or his working time to research, and 20% to teaching. The postdoctoral fellow must be able and willing to give lecture courses and lead seminars on topics within her or his specialisation at BA and MA level. The salary of the postdoctoral fellow is minimal € 2.330,- gross per month to maximum € 3.678,- gross per month, based on full-time employment (in accordance with current salary scale 10 as set out in the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities).

Further information

For further information on these vacancies, applicants may contact the programme leader, Dr. James W. McAllister (tel. 0031 71 5272004, e-mail j.w.mcallister@let.leidenuniv.nl). For questions concerning employment terms, applicants may contact drs. R. E. Speelman, HR advisor (tel. 0031 71 5272779, e-mail r.e.speelman@let.leidenuniv.nl).

Application procedure

Applications should include:

1. Letter of application, stating motivation and qualifications
2. Detailed curriculum vitae
3. Statement (not more than two pages) outlining some thoughts about the themes of the research programme as a whole and about the project at which the application is directed
4. Names of two academic referees, with their academic affiliations, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers
5. Photocopies of academic transcripts (university courses and examination results)
6. Copy of the MA thesis (for applicants for the PhD fellowships) or PhD dissertation (for applicants for the postdoctoral fellowship).

Applications should be sent by post to:

Leiden University, Faculty of Philosophy,

F.a.o. drs. R. E. Speelman, HR Advisor

P.O. Box 9515

2300 RA Leiden

The Netherlands

Note: the vacancy number should be written on both the letter and the envelope. Applications sent by e-mail will not be considered. The complete application is due no later than 21 June 2008. The selection committee may invite shortlisted applicants for an interview in Leiden.