The School of Education & Social Science wishes to appoint a PhD =
bursary. The bursary is tenable for up to 3 years for a PhD (via MPhil =
route) [subject to satisfactory progress]. The bursary will cover the =
cost of tuition fees for UK/EU residents. The successful applicant will =
start on 1 January 2012. International applicants may apply but will be =
expected to pay the difference between the UK/EU and International Fee =
Rate.=20

There will also be an opportunity of undertaking paid teaching up to a =
maximum of four hours per week (subject to review).=20

PROJECT DESCRIPTION=20

The advent of a variety of new biotechnologies has given renewed urgency =
to longstanding philosophical questions concerning the relationship =
between the self which is the object of scientific descriptions and the =
self which is the subject of ethical prescriptions. Simply to =
characterise the implications of the relevant technologies seems to =
demand the adoption of a bioscience vocabulary. But can traditional =
notions of moral obligation survive the adoption of such a vocabulary> =
This concern suggests a variety of philosophical questions worthy of =
further pursuit:=20

-Does bioscience reveal that the human object described by science is =
not in fact the subject of any ethical obligations> Could it do so>

-Would the retention of traditional notions of moral obligations impose =
principled limits on the epistemic authority of bioscience>

-Do recent forms of moral naturalism have genuine potential to reconcile =
the moral subject and the scientific object (can we, for example, =
consistently be both moral realists, and realists about bioscience)>

-Does the adoption of a bioscientific self-conception promise to bolster =
or to undermine individual moral autonomy>=20

-Does the adoption of such a self-conception have moral significance in =
and of itself, quite apart from its potential consequences>

Applications are invited from candidates with a master's degree, or =
(exceptionally) a good BA honours degree, in Philosophy, or a very =
closely related discipline, for a project addressing any or all of the =
above issues. Projects addressing other related issues will be given =
equal consideration, provided they can be shown to fit equally closely =
with the general theme. The successful applicant will be able to =
demonstrate the ability to work efficiently to targets and deadlines.=20

For an informal discussion, or if you would like further information, =
please contact Dr Peter Lucas - plucas1@uclan.ac.uk or telephone 01772 =
892548.

Requests for an application pack (quoting the reference number RS/11/12) =
should be directed to the Graduate Research School Office. Tel: 01772 =
895082 or email: researchdegrees@uclan.ac.uk

Closing Date: 9 November 2011

Interview Date: Week commencing 21 November 2011 (to be confirmed)=20