Throughout history, technology has been a driver of social change. The technologies of the industrial revolution played a crucial role in shaping modern society, and society has since then continued to be shaped by technological innovations. Some technologies not just change specific domains or practices for which they were designed but affect our lives in a much broader sense.

These socially disruptive technologies (SDTs) contribute to the transformation of social norms, cultural practices, and economic and political institutions. Historical examples of such technologies include the printing press, the steam engine, electric lighting, the computer, and the Internet.

An intriguing aspect of SDTs is that they may challenge the meaning of our moral concepts or cause them to no longer apply. For example, new digital technologies, including robotics and artificial intelligence, challenge concepts like trust, autonomy, fairness, and manipulation. For instance, consider that AI-mediated communication sometimes seems manipulative, which challenges what manipulation means when it concerns the behaviour of an intention-less machine. Similar questions arise for new bio- and brain technologies, including gene editing, and technologies for human enhancement, as they shake the boundaries of (human) nature. New environmental and sustainable technologies, including energy technologies and climate engineering, may require re-conceptualising our relation to and impact on ecosystems.

Thus, an important philosophical question arises about the criteria we should consider about whether and how to change or adapt our moral concepts in response to SDTs. Stipulative definitions hardly settle the matter. Instead, we need a principled understanding of the criteria by which we can evaluate conceptual change in response to SDTs.

This PhD project will develop appropriate criteria for changing or adapting concepts in response to SDTs. The project will draw on a broadly functionalist account of concepts, using insight from theoretical and practical philosophy (esp. metaethics and epistemology) and the philosophy of technology.

This PhD position will be part of the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT) programme (www.esdit.nl), a new ten year long international research programme of seven academic institutions in the Netherlands that has started in January 2020.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Michael Klenk and Ibo van de Poel. Ibo van de Poel is professor in Ethics of Technology and interested, among others, in topics like design for values, and value change. Michael Klenk is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and works on topics at the intersection of meta-ethics, epistemology, and moral psychology with foci on moral change and the nature of manipulation. In the ESDiT programme, he coordinates the "Foundations and Synthesis" research line ethicsandtechnology.eu

The successful candidate will be encouraged to spend a semester abroad, and a budget is available to cover expenses, and generous (conference) travel budgets are available for the position.

The candidate is expected to play an active role in the project described above and to participate actively in the workshops, public events, courses and other activities of the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies programme in general and the “Foundations and Synthesis” research line in particular.

• You will have completed, prior to appointment, a Master’s degree or equivalent degree in moral or theoretical philosophy, but other Master’s degrees will also be considered if you have demonstrable expertise in conceptual problems and approaches to normative justification, in close connection with the themes of the research project.
• Strong conceptual and analytic skills
• You have proven affinity with technology and the philosophy of technology.
• Relative to experience, you have excellent research skills and excellent academic writing and presentation skills.
• You can work both independently and as part of a team.
• You have a high level of proficiency in English.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

The position is based at the Ethics and Philosophy of Technology Section at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at TU Delft (https://www.tudelft.nl/en/tpm) , which provides a stimulating and internationally oriented research environment. To this end, the candidate will participate in the activities of in the Graduate School of TU Delft, the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at TU Delft, and TPM and 4TU.Ethics Center for Ethics and Technology https://ethicsandtechnology.eu/

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.