The Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon (CFUL) welcomes expressions of interest from candidates who want to apply for a PhD grant (up to 4 years) funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under the Individual Call for PhD Research Scholarships.

The FCT will accept applications until 31 March 2021 (17:00 Lisbon Time). Candidates will have to apply directly to FCT, but if they want to carry out their doctoral research at CFUL, they must first secure the support of one of the CFUL’s members who are also staff at the Department of Philosophy. The selected sponsor will have to act as the main supervisor for the candidate’s PhD research. The application, written in English or Portuguese, must include the following:

• Detailed research plan;
• Curriculum vitae (on the CIÊNCIAVITAE platform);
• Motivation letter;
• Two recommendation letters.

CFUL is interested in hosting high-quality doctoral students in a wide range of areas in History of Philosophy, Analytic Philosophy and Practical Philosophy.

Interested candidates are invited to contact CFUL’s vice-director, Domingos Faria (at domingosfaria@campus.ul.pt), with a brief description of their intended research and current CV no later than March 12.

Information for foreign applicants: recognition certificate together with grade conversion is mandatory. More info here: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/content/recautomatico

For more information about CFUL, please visit our website: http://cful.letras.ulisboa.pt/

More information about the call, including a link to the application portal, is available here: https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/concursos/individuais2021.phtml.en

The Classical Limit of Quantum Mechanics: One World, Many Routes
Davide Romano (LanCog, University of Lisbon)

19 February 2021, 16:00 | Online, via Zoom

Abstract: This talk is a presentation of my FCT research project: The Emergence of the Classical World From Quantum Mechanics, hosted by the Centre of Philosophy at the University of Lisbon. The project deals with the problem of the classical limit of quantum mechanics, which can be framed as follows: why does a collection of quantum systems (elementary particles, atoms, molecules) in ordinary macroscopic conditions generally form a classical object (a table, a chair, a human being)? Why does this transition happen, and under which conditions? Nowadays, the standard answer to this problem is given by decoherence theory: when a quantum system interacts with an external environment, it loses some of its characteristic quantum effects (it “decoheres”) and, when measured, it looks like a classical object. Nevertheless, there is no consensus in the literature on what has been really achieved by decoherence and the role it plays in the different interpretations of quantum mechanics. The project will investigate these issues, seeking to provide a comprehensive and ontologically clear account of the classical limit of quantum mechanics.

The talk will be divided into two parts. In the first part, I will present the merits and limits of decoherence. I will show that, despite the experimental success of decoherence, this theory (in the standard context) is unable to provide an explanation of the quantum to classical transition that goes beyond a pure instrumentalist approach. In the second part, I will briefly discuss the role and significance of decoherence theory in three different interpretations of quantum mechanics: the de Broglie–Bohm theory, the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber (GRW) theory and the Everett/Many Worlds Interpretation. For each of these interpretations, indeed, not only can the problem of the classical limit be framed differently, but even decoherence itself plays either a different role or no role at all. Even though no definite results will be provided, I will suggest what further steps should be taken in order to develop a clear account of the classical limit.

Free Attendance, but preregistration required: https://cful.letras.ulisboa.pt/lancog/registration/

Rosario Assunto (1915-1994), filósofo que se dedicou desde a estética medieval ao design do séc. XX,  é hoje amplamente reconhecido pelo seu papel pioneiro no pensamento em torno do jardim e da paisagem. Trazendo-os para a discussão filosófica quando não eram ainda temas nem da filosofia nem da moda, bateu-se pela defesa da ideia de beleza num mundo que tendia a secundarizá-la em favor da produção e do consumo, sendo a sua uma voz “contracorrente” e muitas vezes ignorada.

Neste encontro, procurar-se-á olhar para a relação problemática entre paisagem e cidade contemporânea tendo Assunto como fio condutor (Federica Pau), bem como  para a sua obra sob o prisma do jardim (Moirika Reker).  Aurora Carapinha falará do filósofo pela perspectiva da arquitectura paisagista. Seguem-se os comentários de Adriana Veríssimo Serrão (CFUL) e Luca Vargiu (U. Cagliari).

Rosario Assunto (1915-1994), filosofo i cui interessi hanno spaziato dall’estetica medievale al design del Ventesimo secolo, Rosario Assunto è oggi ampiamente riconosciuto per il suo ruolo pionieristico in merito al pensiero sul giardino e sul paesaggio. Traendo al centro del dibattito filosofico temi lontani dall’essere in voga, e difendendo l’idea di bellezza in un mondo che la stava via via marginalizzando per privilegiare la produzione ed il consumo, Assunto è stato catalogato come un filosofo controcorrente e per questo a lungo ignorato.

In questo incontro Assunto è il filo conduttore di una riflessione che si posa sulla relazione problematica tra paesaggio e città contemporanea (Federica pau) e sul tema del giardino come chiave di lettura privilegiata della sua stessa opera (Moirika Reker). Aurora Carapinha propone una lettura di Assunto dal punto di vista dell’architettura paesaggista. La sezione si concluderà con l’intervento di Adriana Veríssimo Serrão (CFUL) e Luca Vargiu (U.Cagliari).

Programa / programma

14h00 — Abertura / Apertura

14h15-15h15

Federica Pau (U. Cagliari) — “L’estetica della città e l’estetica del paesaggio: attualità di un filosofo inattuale? / A estética da cidade e a estética da paisagem: actualidade de um filósofo inactual?”

Moirika Reker (Praxis-CFUL) — “Um jardim para Rosario Assunto / Un giardino per Rosario Assunto”

15h15-15h30 – Intervalo /Pausa

15h30 – 17h00

Aurora Carapinha (U.Évora)

Comentários de / Commenti di Adriana Veríssimo Serrão (Praxis-CFUL) e Luca Vargiu (U. Cagliari)

Debate/ Discussione

Link da reunião zoom:

https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/83118448044?pwd=aCtsd294L24vNEczQ2xrVHdzZmRFZz09

ID da reunião: 831 1844 8044
Senha de acesso: 740082

The Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon (CFUL) launched a call for applications to 2 PhD fellowships (up to 4 years) at the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon. We will accept applications between 8 February and 26 February 2021 (23:59 Lisbon Time).

André Barata

University of Beira Interior

A revolução relacional com a matéria

1 February 2022, 17h00 (Lisbon Time — GMT+0)

Sala Mattos Romão (Departamento de Filosofia) | School of Arts and Humanities – University of Lisbon

Abstract

Na peugada do novo materialismo, procura-se neste texto iluminar o vínculo profundo entre matéria e alteridade como forma de instruir uma razão prática ecológica que supere o antropocentrismo. Este novo materialismo, apesar de nele ressoar um velhíssimo materialismo — o mais velho de todos, o dos pensadores pré-socráticos da φύσις —, opõe-se a boa parte da tradição filosófica, que, reivindique-se ou não do materialismo, tendeu a desvitalizar a matéria, conformando-a a uma passividade inerte, incapaz de relação. Assim se impôs a cesura fundamental entre matéria e alteridade, entre matéria e a sua própria compreensão, na verdade uma orfandade recíproca, pois, na persistência do vínculo latente mas recalcado entre materialidade e alteridade, esta concepção passiva da materialidade também condenou à pobreza as concepções da alteridade. A mesma cesura percorre a história do pensamento no que respeita ao outro, sempre posto de esguelha, pensado por analogia àquele que o apreende, conformando a alteridade à mesmidade, tolerado na medida de uma qualquer semelhança que se ache. O vínculo entre matéria e alteridade surpreende-se na aproximação entre o ἄπειρον de Anaximandro e o infinito de Lévinas, ambos inalcançáveis pelos programas da totalidade. E também na aproximação entre átomo e indivíduo, ambos impenetravelmente indivisíveis, igualmente além das pretensões do conhecimento. Este regime de opressão da matéria surpreende-se no quotidiano dos objectos com que nos rodeamos e das objectivações que nos impomos. Uma crítica da concepção de matéria capaz de libertar a sua potência relacional traria amplas consequências para a compreensão e para o quotidiano de uma coexistência ecológica.

The plan for this term is now ready, as follows:

February 19 – Davide Romano (LanCog)
February 26 – Michel Croce (Dublin/LanCog) & Tommaso Piazza (Pavia/LanCog)
March 5 – Julien Dutant (King’s College London)
March 12 – Kevin Dorst (University of Pittsburgh)
March 19 – Timothy Sundell (University of Kentucky)
March 26 – Delia Belleri (LanCog)
April 9 – Julia Zakkou (Bielefeld University)
April 16 – Robert Williams (University of Leeds)
April 23 – Francisca Silva (LanCog)
April 30 – Bruno Jacinto (CFCUL/LanCog) & José Mestre (Stirling/LanCog)
May 7 – Philip Ebert (University of Stirling)
May 14 – Arturs Logins (University of Zürich)
May 21 – Hugo Luzio (LanCog)
May 28 – epistemology workshop (org. Domingos Faria & Michel Croce)
June 4 – Diogo Santos (LanCog)
June 11 – David Papineau (London)
June 18 – Adam Carter (Glasgow) & Emma Gordon (Glasgow)
June 25 – Liz Jackson (Ryerson University)

The LanCog Research Group, University of Lisbon, welcomes expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates interested in applying for fix-term (up to 6 years) research positions funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) in the following conditions:

The FCT is the Portuguese national funding agency for academic research and development. In 2021, the FCT will fund the hiring of 400 researchers, holders of PhDs at various stages of career, to carry out their activity in research centres throughout Portugal. The selected researchers are hired by the host institution through a framework-contract between the host and the FCT, which guarantees the funding. In each of the previous editions, 10 to 13 positions have gone for philosophers, and LanCog has a strong record of supporting successful candidates.

The FCT will accept applications between 29 January and 26 February 2021 (17:00 Lisbon Time). Candidates will apply online directly to the FCT, but their application must be supported by a host institution.

The application, written in English, must include the following:

• A research plan, including a description of the main activities to be undertaken, the expected results, as well as an indication of how the research project fits with (at least one of) the goals set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• A brief description of previous academic and scientific experience, highlighting the main activities and results obtained in the last 5 years;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter, identifying up to two main contributions of the candidate in the last 5 years and the expected main contributions for the next years;
• A brief description of the conditions provided by the host institution and of how the proposed research plan fits into the overall strategy of the research centre.

Applications will be assessed by an international panel, according to the following criteria:

• The candidate’s scientific experience, with emphasis on the last 5 years (70%);
• The proposed research plan (30%).

Each applicant can submit only one application for one of the following types of positions:

Junior researcher: PhD holders with limited post-doctoral experience in the scientific area of application – 2.134,73€ gross wage (c. 1.400-1.500€ net wage for 14 months/year, depending on several specific factors related to the family composition and income);

Assistant researcher: PhD holders with more than 5 years of post-doctoral research, with relevant experience in the scientific area of application and limited scientific independence* – 3.201,40€ gross wage (c. 1.800-1.950€ net wage 14 months/year, depending on several specific factors related to the family composition and income);

Principal researcher: PhD holders with more than 5 years of post-doctoral research, with relevant experience in the scientific area of application and demonstrating scientific independence* for the last 3 years – 3.611,83€ gross wage (c. 2.100-2300€ net wage 14 months/year, depending on several specific factors related to the family composition and income);

Coordinating researcher: PhD holders with more than 5 years of post-doctoral research, holders of a title of ‘Agregado’ (or ‘Habilitation’), with relevant experience and demonstrating scientific independence and recognized leadership in the scientific area of application – 4.678,96€ gross wage (c. 2.350-2500€ net wage 14 months/year, depending on several specific factors related to the family composition and income).

*Research independence is demonstrated through scientific competence, originality and international recognition, by experience in doctoral or post-doctoral supervision, or by the competitive research funds attracted at national or international level.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to choose the contract level best suited to their career stage.

It is mandatory to upload the doctoral diploma. In order to comply with the Portuguese legislation concerning the recognition of foreign qualifications, all the doctoral degrees granted by foreign higher education institutions should be duly recognized**. Applicants are advised to visit the website of the Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES) for further information: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition. If possible, the recognition certificate (or proof that one has been requested) should be uploaded together with the diploma. Applications will be considered even if the recognition certificate is not available. However, the recognition must be obtained before signing the contract.

** Cf. Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August; Portaria No. 33/2019, of 25 January; Portaria No. 43/2020, of 14 February.

More information about the call, including a link to the application portal, is available here.

Interested candidates are invited to contact Dr. Domingos Faria (at domingosfaria@edu.ulisboa.pt), with a brief description of their intended research and current CV no later than 5 February.

A propósito da celebração do Dia Internacional dos Direitos Humanos (10 de Dezembro), a Agência Ecclesia entrevistou o Professor Pedro Calafate, que falou sobre a Escola Ibérica da Paz.

https://agencia.ecclesia.pt/portal/direitos-humanos-principios-da-convivencia-pacifica-e-dignidade-da-pessoa-tem-genese-portuguesa-em-autores-do-seculo-xvi-pedro-calafate/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEznDF9TswA&feature=emb_title

The Expression of Hate in Hate Speech
Teresa Marques (University of Barcelona)

18 December 2020, 16:00

Faculdade de Letras de Lisboa
Sala Mattos Romão (Departamento de Filosofia) & live-streamed

Abstract: This paper offers an account of how hate speech expresses hate. In so doing, it answers two objections to expressivist views. It further gives a hypothesis to explain how and when hate speech can correlate with hate crimes. It combines an account of the illocutionary structure of conversational contexts and of the normative requirements that speech makes on context, and recent accounts of the attitudes or sentiments expressed through hate speech. It concludes that hate speech is illocutionarily expressive, and presupposes ongoing hate as a sentiment which “organizes people’s social world” (Fischer et al 2018, p. 311).

Free Attendance, but preregistration required: https://cful.letras.ulisboa.pt/lancog/registration/

Ricardo Mendoza-Canales

Praxis-CFUL, University of Lisbon

Inhabiting Utopia

15 December 2020, 18h00 (Lisbon Time — GMT+0)

Online seminar (Zoom link here)

Abstract

A distinctive feature of utopian narratives throughout history has been the close relationship between imagination and politics. From its first formulation in Plato’s Republic, utopias have been associated with imaginary and alternative conceptions of reality. Due to its both “out-of-place” and “out-of-time” character, utopia has been considered either an a-historical, chimerical and, therefore, unfeasible reality; or as an anticipation, a future task or a desirable aim towards which to orient transformative action. In either case, utopian narratives fulfill a social and political function, since they deal with representations of social structures, cultural forms, values, beliefs, and aesthetic ideals. In this spirit, and as I will develop in my paper, I will argue that “inhabiting utopia” exists through the performative appropriation of the relationship between imagination and reality: on the one hand, it is an appropriation because it is a type of embodied cognition; on the other hand, it is performative because the materialization of the imaginary is rendered by means of action. My conclusion is that inhabiting utopia is a manner of shaping reality that also encompasses a double ethical demand, both for liberation and for resistance: for resistance facing material and discursive hegemonic practices, and for liberation due to its emancipatory spirit.