Many high-stake decisions (individual choices and public deliberations on policies, regulations, and technological designs) stem from a combination of predictive models, deliberative processes, and interaction with automated systems. It is crucial to understand how such complex decisions can be quantitatively modeled; how agents' attitudes, biases and heuristics affect them; when they are rationally justified by evidence, background knowledge and cultivated intuitions; to what extent opaque mathematical models or devices can be trusted in spite of a partial understanding of their inner workings; how scientific, personal and sub-personal factors combined can increase or mitigate risk and margins for error. We seek applications of traditional tools from analytic (including formal) epistemology, accounts of scientific explanation, theories of reasoning and decision-making, logico-mathematical thinking, and novel approaches to technology and AI in areas where individual choices, policies and design can affect (or be affected by) considerations on sustainable development and trust in experts and scientific models.Aviation will be considered a preferential field of application, due to pervasive reliance on both automation, mental math and rules of thumb; advanced predictive models; the role of human factors in trained personnel; safety management systems; the influence of scientific aeronautical knowledge on piloting skills; and repercussions on both safety and the environment.

Candidates should possess familiarity with, and/or training in, one or more of the fields relevant to the project, preferentially in (analytic) epistemology, philosophy of science, and theories of reasoning and decision-making. Background knowledge in (philosophies of) logic and mathematics may prove useful. Multidisciplinarity and willingness to apply traditional philosophical methods and problems to under-explored domains related to sustainability are recommended. Depending on the field of application (e.g. — as suggested in the project, but not necessarily limited to it — aviation), study or personal expertise, or familiarity with the proposed field, will be considered beneficial.

The team focuses on epistemology and theories of knowledge; philosophy of mathematics and logic; risk, uncertainty and decision-making; philosophy of mind, affectivity and technology. It includes Full professors (Andrea Sereni), Associate professors (Alfredo Tomasetta), Researchers (Silvia De Toffoli, Giulia Piredda, Luca Zanetti) and post-docs (Rachel Boddy, Alessio Tacca, Guido Tana). It promotes recurrent philosophical events (seminars, workshops, masterclasses) in its areas of expertise and supports international networks. Its members participate in, or coordinate, competitive research projects, and are involved in multidisciplinary MA (Philosophical Knowledge) and PhD (HuME) programs.