About the Project
The Marie Curie ITN “The History of Human Freedom and Dignity in Western Civilization” – a collaboration between six universities, nine non-academic partner organizations and 14 PhD fellows (ESRs) – invites applications for a full-time Early Stage Researcher (ESR) position to begin December 1, 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter. Location: Reading, England. The ESR will have a 2-year position, with the possibility of an extension to a third year under a University stipend scheme in order to allow the completion of a PhD if the candidate should choose this option. The ITN offers an interdisciplinary environment and an innovative training program that allows the ESRs to obtain specialist knowledge of a specific research topic as well as transferable skills that can be used in non-academic institutions.
The overall research project (the ITN) will trace the historical roots and transformations of the modern conception of the human being and the human values of dignity and freedom, especially in theological and philosophical traditions. In modern western societies, the ideal human being has the right to think, believe, and express itself freely without fearing retribution and to be treated as an autonomous and dignified individual. But such a conception is not shared by all – and never was. Its long history has been formed through a continuous battle between two theological and philosophical traditions going back to Origen of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo, respectively. Origen saw humans as free, valuable, and dignified beings, while Augustine saw them as predestined, sinful, and bound to servitude. The project will continuously circle around this battle between the negative and positive views on humanity that we can encounter in various contexts from antiquity to modern times. By unlocking the patterns of reception they, in turn, can be used as a hermeneutical key to understanding later, modern debates about human freedom, free will, and dignity. Thereby, the project will raise awareness of how ancient philosophical and religious tenets still shape political, moral, and anthropological categories and modes of thinking as well as principles of human conduct. Within this framework, we invite applications for the following subproject (located in Reading, England):
Origen and Bernard of Clairvaux
This research project focuses on the theological anthropology of Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). Bernard was firmly embedded in the Augustinian theological tradition, but Origen’s ideas also seem to have influenced Bernard’s views on human freedom, e.g., via his optimistic Christology and doctrine of justification. The project thus aims, first, to detect the influences of Origen on Bernard’s anthropology. Second, it will distill the impact of Bernard’s theology on later debates.
Applicants are encouraged to send a project proposal, which takes an outset in - and elaborates on - the above project description. Please visit our website http://www.itn-humanfreedom.eu for the full advertisement with more information on the project and how to apply.
Funding Notes
Eligible candidates must have an internationally recognized Master’s or equivalent degree in theology, history, philosophy, classics, religious history, or a related field. They must hold less than four years of research experience after their Master’s degree and have not resided more than 12 of the last 36 months in Denmark. ESRs will complete 2 secondments during their studies.