August 2026 - News - Philosophy bulletin board

by Martin Kusch

Dear All, The next talk in the "Wittgenstein=steine" series is this Friday (June 13th) at 3pm in room NIG 3D. The speaker is Konstantin Deininger, and his title is: _"On the Material and Formal Aspects of (Moral) Certainty"_. Abstract: Does morality have a binding character in the sense that chains of justification come to an end? In this talk, I will affirm this question and argue that we can plausibly distinguish between formal and material aspects of moral certainty. As a starting point, I will interpret Wittgenstein's idea of "bedrock," introduced in §217 of the Philosophical Investigations, as standing for the end of a chain of reasoning. In doing so, I align with certain Wittgensteinian interpreters who maintain that some chains of moral reasoning end with certainty. However, I will arrive at deviating conclusions by demonstrating that different kinds of moral certainties function in different ways. Wittgensteinian scholars such as Cora Diamond and Nigel Pleasants correctly identify the formal aspect of moral certainty, showing that some propositions resist justification and doubt. However, the candidates for formal certainties they propose do not fully satisfy the criteria of certainty. This, I argue, is due to their failure to adequately distinguish between the formal and material aspects of certainty. Material certainties, such as Diamond's "slavery is unjust and insupportable" or Pleasants' "killing is wrong," remain intelligible to some extent and are thus subject to justification and doubt. Still, these propositions function as regress stoppers by putting an end to the chain of reasoning--but they do not mark the boundary of the unintelligible as formal certainties do. Drawing on Wittgenstein's later writings, I will argue that only formal certainties--which I refer to as transcendental certainties--are entirely exempt from justification and doubt. I identify the principle "equals are to be treated equally" as a plausible candidate for transcendental certainty. This certainty is foundational to moral reasoning and enables moral thought. I illustrate its role through debates on justice in animal ethics. Everybody welcome! Best wishes from the organizers, Esther Heinrich-Ramharter Anja Weiberg Martin Kusch

1 day, 21 hours

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Ausschreibung: Organisationsassistent*in (6118)

by philosophie＠univie.ac.at

Guten Tag! Wir möchten Sie über folgende aktuelle Jobausschreibung am Institut für Philosophie der Universität Wien informieren: Organisationsassistent*in (6118) Link zur Ausschreibung: <https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/6118/> https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/6118/ Wir laden alle Interessierten herzlich dazu ein, sich für diese Position zu bewerben. Bitte leiten Sie diese Information auch an potenziell interessierte Personen in Ihrem Umfeld weiter. Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Unterstützung! Mit freundlichen Grüßen Katherina Krobath -- Institutskoordination Dipl.-Ing. Katherina Geneviève Krobath, BEd Andreas Wintersperger, MA <mailto:philosophie@univie.ac.at> philosophie(a)univie.ac.at +43(1)4277 46401 Institut für Philosophie Universitätsstraße 7, Raum A316 1010 Wien <https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/> https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/

2 months, 1 week

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Ausschreibung: Praedoc (6066)

by Sophie Juliane Veigl

Call for Applications: PhD in Philosophy at the University of Vienna (30h/week, 4 years) The FWF-funded research project “Bodies of Knowledge: Use-Based Expertise Beyond Biomedicine” – PI: Sophie Juliane Veigl – invites applications for a fully funded PhD Position. Expected Start Date: Dec 2026 (with some flexibility) About: Waning trust in science is often framed as a crisis of expertise. Yet many communities beyond institutionalized medicine produce sophisticated forms of knowledge through their engagement with biomedical technologies. But are these knowers experts? And can current philosophical understandings of expertise account for these forms of knowledge? Bodies of Knowledge investigates how expertise is produced and negotiated in communities that engage with steroid hormones beyond conventional healthcare settings. Through a participatory research design, the project integrates qualitative social science methods with philosophical analysis. Current case studies examine steroid hormone use by bodybuilders (PI-led) and DIY gender-affirming care (Postdoc-led). The PhD Project: The successful applicant will develop an original doctoral project within the broader research agenda of Bodies of Knowledge. Applicants are invited to propose an empirical case study of a community that uses steroid hormones. The proposed project may build on one of the existing empirical contexts or investigate another community. Applications should outline a case study the applicant would be excited to pursue, explain its relevance for the project, and outline how the applicant envisions approaching it empirically and philosophically. The doctoral researcher will be supervised by Sophie Juliane Veigl. interested? more details on the post can be found on the application website: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job/PhD-Position-in-Philosophy-in-FWF-Project-Bod… If you have any questions, please contact: sophie.juliane.veigl(a)univie.ac.at -- Dr. Sophie Juliane Veigl, BSc., BA., MSc., MA. Institut für Philosophie, Universität Wien African Centre for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science, University of Johannesburg E-Mail: sophie.juliane.veigl(a)univie.ac.at my pronouns are she/her

2 months, 1 week

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Video – How Humor Challenges Beliefs and Social Norms, featuring Mira Magdalena Sickinger’s research

by Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy

Dear all, I am pleased to share with you the latest video featuring an early-career researcher in the VDP, Mira Magdalena Sickinger. In the video, How Humor Challenges Beliefs and Social Norms, Mira presents her research on the role of humor in challenging beliefs and social norms. The video is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X0oBK-fafI&t=1s Kind regards, Raphael Aybar

2 months, 2 weeks

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Job advertisement: University Assistant postdoctoral in the research area of Sanskrit Philosophy (6109)

by philosophie＠univie.ac.at

Good afternoon! We would like to inform you about the following current job opening at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Vienna: University Assistant postdoctoral in the research area of Sanskrit Philosophy (6109) Link to the job posting: <https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/6109/> https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/6109/ We warmly invite all interested individuals to apply for this position. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could share this information with potentially interested individuals in your network. Thank you in advance for your support! Kind regards, Katherina Krobath -- Institutskoordination Dipl.-Ing. Katherina Geneviève Krobath, BEd Andreas Wintersperger, MA <mailto:philosophie@univie.ac.at> philosophie(a)univie.ac.at +43(1)4277 46401 Institut für Philosophie Universitätsstraße 7, Raum A316 1010 Wien <https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/> https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/

2 months, 2 weeks

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Job advertisement: University Assistant Praedoc in the research area of Sanskrit Philosophy (6068)

by philosophie＠univie.ac.at

Good afternoon! We would like to inform you about the following current job opening at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Vienna: University Assistant Praedoc in the research area of Sanskrit Philosophy (6068) Link to the job posting: <https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/6068/> https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/6068/ We warmly invite all interested individuals to apply for this position. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could share this information with potentially interested individuals in your network. Thank you in advance for your support! Kind regards, Katherina Krobath -- Institutskoordination Dipl.-Ing. Katherina Geneviève Krobath, BEd Andreas Wintersperger, MA <mailto:philosophie@univie.ac.at> philosophie(a)univie.ac.at +43(1)4277 46401 Institut für Philosophie Universitätsstraße 7, Raum A316 1010 Wien <https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/> https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/

2 months, 2 weeks

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Ausschreibung: Organisationsassistent*in (6084)

by philosophie＠univie.ac.at

Guten Tag! Wir möchten Sie über folgende aktuelle Jobausschreibung am Institut für Philosophie der Universität Wien informieren: Organisationsassistent*in (6084) Link zur Ausschreibung: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/6084/ Wir laden alle Interessierten herzlich dazu ein, sich für diese Position zu bewerben. Bitte leiten Sie diese Information auch an potenziell interessierte Personen in Ihrem Umfeld weiter. Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Unterstützung! Mit freundlichen Grüßen Katherina Krobath -- Institutskoordination Dipl.-Ing. Katherina Geneviève Krobath, BEd Andreas Wintersperger, MA <mailto:philosophie@univie.ac.at> philosophie(a)univie.ac.at +43(1)4277 46401 Institut für Philosophie Universitätsstraße 7, Raum A316 1010 Wien <https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/> https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/

2 months, 2 weeks

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