University of Aberdeen 2022 PhD Philosophy Scholarship in Digital Epistemic Virtues

Published: 26 Jun 2022

The project will use the latest tools of social epistemology and virtue epistemology in order to put our understanding of online inquiry and information sharing on an entirely new footing, to better understand the sources of online epistemic risk, and to better train ourselves to navigate them skilfully. One limitation to previous epistemological approaches to the online infodemic is that they have placed the theoretical focus on brainbound cognition, in isolation from the technologies in which we are deeply and inextricably scaffolded. This kind of focus is unsurprising, given that traditional epistemology has only in the past decade or so begun to theorise about knowledge and intellectual virtues in a way that appreciates how good thinking is not clearly separable in many cases from good cognitive scaffolding, that is, from good and responsible ways of relying on our environments and on technology to further our intellectual goals. The project develops a new and innovative framework for theorizing about digital epistemic virtues, and vices - traits of thinkers that can enable them to better navigate information online, better assess online epistemic risk, and more efficiently convert digital information into digital knowledge. In addition to academic outputs, the project has a practical objective, which is to work with educationalists and policy makers in order to propose new and innovative ways we can educate for digital virtues, and in this way, to put our theory into practice.

University of Aberdeen PhD Philosophy Scholarship

Benefits of University of Aberdeen PhD Philosophy Scholarship

• The scholarship provides a full tuition fee waiver and a maintenance stipend of £6,000 per year.
• Subject to satisfacotry progress this scholarship will be awarded for 3 years. 

Requirements for University of Aberdeen PhD Philosophy Scholarship

• This competitive scholarship is open to applicants from around the globe.
• Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and potential for independent research, as evidenced by the candidate’s academic record, prior qualifications, proposal and references.
• Applicants must hold, or expect to hold prior to commencement of studies, an undergraduate degree at UK first class or 2:1 honours level, or the international equivalent, in philosophy, which includes courses in epistemology. 
• It is preferable but not a requirement that you hold a Masters relevant to your chosen area of study. 

Selection Process

•  The successful applicant shall commence study in September 2022.

Application Documents

You must include a detailed research proposal (1000-1500 words) which sets out how

• You will engage with the advertised PhD project.
• Degree transcripts and certificates.
• Be supported by two academic references. 

Application Deadline

How to Apply