Two PhD Seminars: ‘Automaticity and Moral Responsibility’ & ‘Statistics for Philosophers’ (17-18 & 19-20 September, University of Oslo)

Two PhD Seminars: ‘Automaticity and Moral Responsibility’ & ‘Statistics for Philosophers’, 17-18 & 19-20 September, University of Oslo

The University of Oslo(IFIKK) invites you to two separate seminars related to empirical moral philosophy. The seminars can be attended separately or jointly.

Automaticity and Moral Responsibility (Dr Elinor Mason & Dr Dan Kelly: 17-18 September 2017)

In the recent decades, research in psychological, behaviour, and cognitive neurosciences has been taken to show that implicit biases, unconscious stereotypes, prejudices, and other attitudes and dispositions have to be acknowledged as cognitive processes that are crucial in determining people’s moral behaviour. This raises critical questions concerning what these processes are and how they develop, what ‘agency’ or ‘control’ over moral behaviour entails, and in what way we should think of holding people responsible for behaviour determined by such processes.

Dr Elinor Mason (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Dan Kelly (Perdue University) will teach a two-day seminar in which various views on automaticity and moral responsibility will be addressed. Both are experts on the topic, Dr Kelly with more experience with moral psychology, and Dr Mason with Metaethics. The days will both include lectures and sufficient room for discussion. A more detailed programme and reading list will be announced soon.

Application:

·      The seminar is aimed at philosophy PhD students, but more advanced career researchers, or researchers from other disciplines are welcomed too.

·      The seminar provides 5 ECTs, by completing preparatory reading, participating during the two days, and subsequent paper assignment (4000w).

·      The seminar is free of costs, and lunches will be provided. Transportation, accommodation, and other meals will be up to the participants themselves.

·      Apply by sending a CV and short motivation to [email protected]. Application deadline: August 20th 2017. (If you are not yet entirely certain if you can attend, you can send a message to indicate interest).

Statistics for Philosophers (Dr Pål Ulleberg: 19-20 September 2017)

Empirical studies are increasingly being availed to inform a wide range of philosophical debates, for example concerning judgement formation, action guidance, perception, among many other topics. However, this ‘empirical turn’ requires specific skills in formal methods that is entirely absent in most philosophy curricula. Therefore, this seminar will offer a high intensity introduction to the basics of statistics to familiar participants with the essential terminology and methodology of data collection and statistical analysis, and skills in the usage of essential analytical tools (SPSS), which will enable participants to critically read articles with experimental data from psychology, social psychology, and cognitive neuroscience.

            Dr Pål Ulleberg is an associate professor at the Department of Psychology (University of Oslo) specialised in quantitative research methods and much experience in teaching statistics. Dr Ulleberg will teach a two-day seminar including lectures and practical assignments, discussing empirical philosophical papers, reading experimental data, and doing data analysis. A more detailed programme and reading list will be announced soon.

Application:

·      The seminar is aimed at philosophy PhD students, but more advanced career researchers, or researchers from other disciplines are welcomed too.

·      The seminar provides 3 ECTs, by completing preparatory reading, participating during the two days, and subsequent paper assignment (4000w).

·      The seminar is free of costs, and lunches will be provided. Transportation, accommodation, and other meals will be up to the participants themselves.

·      Apply by sending a CV and short motivation to [email protected]. Application deadline: August 20th 2017. (If you are not yet entirely certain if you can attend, you can send a message to indicate interest).

For further information, contact Jeroen Rijnders: [email protected]

All the best,

Sebastian Watzl (Associate professor philosophy/IFIKK, University of Oslo)

Jeroen Rijnders (PhD philosophy/IFIKK, University of Oslo)