University of Aberdeen 2022 International PhD Philosophy Scholarships in UK: (Deadline 30 June 2022)

We are increasingly in the grip of an information epidemic, which the spread of health misinformation online along with rising distrust of experts has only served to highlight with tragic emphasis. This project takes as a starting point that addressing the info emic requires serious engagement not only with its symptoms but also with its fundamental causes – which fall within the remit of social epistemology, which studies how knowledge is shared, and how individuals can become more responsible consumers of information. Those who share fake news online often present themselves as trustworthy and well-informed, in a way that might easily deceive not only dedicated conspiracy theorists, but also those unskilled at distinguishing reliable from unreliable sources. The problem is amplified even further by what science has shown about the spread rate of online misinformation. Most academic research and policy initiatives have focused on treating symptoms of this info emic rather than the causes. One prominent political strategy aimed at combatting the spread of disinformation has taken the form of deleting content (Facebook) and censoring posters who violate social media terms of policy (Twitter). Such strategies have important shortcomings, as there is evidence that simply hiding content or banning users in cases where the media consumer is not privileged to the rationale for doing so can itself exacerbate conspiratorial thinking patterns, thus, furthering the problem. Even more, content removal policies effectively only sanction violations of existing norms online; such policies neither identify the source of the problem, nor clearly outline positive norms.

About University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is a public research university in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is an ancient university founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, petitioned Pope Alexander VI on behalf of James IV, King of Scots to establish King’s College, making it Scotland’s third-oldest university and the fifth-oldest in the English-speaking world. The university as it is today was formed in 1860 by a merger between King’s College and Mariscal College, a second university founded in 1593 as a Protestant alternative to the former. Today, Aberdeen is consistent.

University of Aberdeen PhD Scholarship

• Type PhD
• Organisation University of Aberdeen
• Country to study United Kingdom
• School to study University of Aberdeen
• Course to study Not specified
• State of Origin
• Gender Men and Women
• Application Deadline June 30, 2022

Aim and Benefits of University of Aberdeen PhD Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen will provide a full tuition fee waiver and a maintenance stipend of £6,000 per year for the successful candidates.

Requirements for University of Aberdeen PhD Scholarship Qualification

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. Selection will be based on this evidence and upon the strength of the proposed engagement with the advertised research project.

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. Other factors such as financial status and nationality are not taken into account.

Application Deadline

June 30, 2022

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to University of Aberdeen on www.abdn.ac.uk to applyBefore you apply, please contact the supervisor by email to discuss your potential fit with the project, how your own research interests will benefit the project, and how you intend to frame your research proposal.

Application will be via the PhD application portal. Further information on the process may be found at this site.

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, and be supported by two academic references. Further guidance on research proposal may be found here.

You should mark your application “Digital Knowledge-A New Framework for Digital Epistemic Virtues A New Framework for Digital Epistemic Virtues” in the Intended Source of Funding field on your online application.