Choice & Inference

 

One Assistant Professorship in Philosophy at the Munich Center

For Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP)

 

Two Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Munich Center for Mathematical

Philosophy (MCMP)

 

Deadline: April 23rd, 2012.

(Fluency in German is not mandatory.)

 

——————–

 

Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich is seeking applications for an

 

**Assistant Professorship in Mathematical Philosophy**

 

at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (directed by Professor

Hannes Leitgeb) at the Faculty for Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and

Study of Religion. The position, which is to start from October 1st 2012,

is for three years with the possibility of extension. Technically, it is a

so-called ‘Akademische Ratsstelle auf Zeit’ in the Bavarian university

system, which means basically that one has the rights and perks of a civil

servant.

 

The appointee will be expected (i) to do philosophical research assisted

by logical or mathematical methods, (ii) to teach five hours a week in

areas of philosophy in which logical or mathematical methods are applied,

and (iii) to take on management tasks in the new Munich Center for

Mathematical Philosophy. The successful candidate will have (iv) a PhD in

philosophy or logic, and (v) teaching experience in philosophy or logic.

Fluency in German is not mandatory.

 

For details on the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy, please see

 

<http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html>

 

The appointment will be made within the German A13 salary scheme

(under the assumption that the civil service requirements are met).

 

Women are currently underrepresented in the Faculty, therefore we

particularly welcome applications for this post from suitably qualified

female candidates. Furthermore, given equal qualification, severely

physically challenged individuals will be preferred.

 

Applications (including CV, certificates, list of publications) should be

sent to

 

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen

Fakultaet für Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie

und Religionswissenschaft

Lehrstuhl für Logik und Sprachphilosophie / MCMP

Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1

80539 Muenchen

Germany

E-Mail: office.leitgeb@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

 

by

 

April 23rd, 2012.

 

If possible at all, we very much prefer applications by email.

 

Additionally, two confidential letters of reference addressing the

applicant’s qualifications for academic research should be sent to the

same address from the referees directly.

 

Contact for informal inquiries: office.leitgeb@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

 

——————–

 

Two postdoctoral fellowships are being advertised at the Munich Center

forMathematical Philosophy (MCMP). The MCMP, which is devoted

to applications of logical and mathematical methods in philosophy,

was established in 2010 at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich

(LMU) based on generous support by the Alexander von Humboldt

Foundation. Directed by Professor Hannes Leitgeb, the Center

hosts a vibrant research community of university faculty, postdoctoral

fellows, doctoral fellows, and visiting fellows. The Center organizes

at least two weekly colloquia in Mathematical Philosophy and a weekly

internal a work-in-progress seminar, as well as various other activities

such as workshops, conferences, reading groups, and the like.

 

The successful candidate will partake in all of the Center’s academic

activities and enjoy its administrative facilities and financial support.

More information on the Center can be found at

 

<http://www.mcmp.philosophie.uni-muenchen.de/index.html>

 

Over and above the Center, the Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy

Of Science and Study of Religion at LMU offers a wealth of expertise

in all areas of philosophy.

 

The successful applicants are supposed to use logical or

Mathematical methods in their philosophical research,

and/or to reflect on these methods philosophically. Research projects

can, of course, be carried out in logic or philosophy of mathematics,

but they are not restricted to these fields — for instance, work

in epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of language,

metaphysics, moral philosophy, and so forth are equally encouraged,

as long as formal methods play a significant role in the corresponding

research projects.

 

One of the two postdoctoral fellowships is meant to combine research

on a philosophical topic with research on the following question

on academic management: Which new ways of organizing the field

of mathematical philosophy, and of presenting mathematical

philosophy to professional philosophers, students, and the public,

can be developed that might take mathematical philosophy one

step forward? If you intend to apply just for this special fellowship,

please do mention that in your application package.

 

In general, applicants should be in possession of the skills that would

normally be gained by  achieving a PhD or equivalent in philosophy,

logic or a closely related field. The postdoctoral stipends are for three

years, and they should be taken up by October 1st 2012 (although

there is some flexibility on that side). Each stipend will amount

to EUR 2400 of monthly salary (normally tax-free, but excluding

insurance). Additionally, the Center helps its fellows with the costs

that arise from attending conferences (fees, traveling, accommodation).

 

The official language at the Center is English, and the successful

candidates need not be able to speak German. There is also the

possibility, though no obligation, to do some teaching in either

English or German.

 

Applications are due by April 23rd, 2012, and should include:

1. A cover letter that addresses, amongst others, one’s academic

background and research interests.

2. A curriculum vitae.

3. A proposal for a research project (3 pages).

4. A sample of written work (e.g., a published article).

5. Two confidential letters of reference addressing the applicant’s

qualifications for postddoctoral research. These should be sent

from the referees directly.

 

We especially encourage female scholars to apply. The

Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich in general, and the MCMP

In particular, endeavor to raise the percentage of women

among its academic personnel.

 

Applications, letters of reference, as well as any questions should be

directed to

 

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen

Fakultaet fuer Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie

und Religionswissenschaft

Lehrstuhl fuer Logik und Sprachphilosophie / MCMP

Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1

D-80539 Muenchen

Germany

 

E-mail: office.leitgeb@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

 

If possible at all, we prefer to receive applications and letters of

reference by e-mail (sent to office.leitgeb@lrz.uni-muenchen.de).

 

**********************************

 

David Lagnado (UCL)

Thinking about evidence

CIMeC Colloquium Series

Wed 1 April 2009, h. 15-16

CIMeC (Center for Mind/Brain Sciences), University of Trento

Palazzo Fedrigotti, Corso Bettini 31, Rovereto

Abstract:

In everyday life, as well as more specialized contexts such as legal or medical decision making, people must make judgments based on complex bodies of interrelated evidence. What psychological processes do they use, and how do these relate to formal methods of evidence evaluation? One key factor seems to be people’s ability to organize information into causal networks. This talk discusses four empirical studies that support this claim. Studies 1 and 2 examine how people revise their beliefs when an item of evidence is discredited. The main finding was that people use causal models to explain away discredited evidence, but sometimes over-extend this discredit to unrelated items. This over-extension depends on the order of evidence presentation, and whether evidence shares a common direction. To explain this pattern, we propose that people group evidence according to direction (either for or against the target hypothesis), and the discredit of one item can hurt the whole group. Study 3 investigates the subtleties of alibi evidence, and suggests that people draw inferences based on network representations of the evidence. In particular, people’s inferences are sensitive to the relation of the alibi-provider to the accused, the motivation to lie, and whether the alibi-provider knows if the accused is guilty. Study 4 looks at the selection of new information, and shows that people are sensitive to the differential diagnosticity of evidence within a causal network. A simple measure of information gain can predict the evidential questions that people prefer to ask. Taken together, these studies show that people are often rational in their search and evaluation of evidence, but that biases can occur due to simplifying strategies.