Education at the Doctoral School

An applicant accepted in the admission process becomes a doctoral student of the Doctoral School at the University of Silesia in Katowice and implements an interdisciplinary education program (https://us.edu.pl/szkola-doktorska/en/program-ksztalcenia/), participates in the research work of the Institute of Philosophy, and conducts classes with students.

The PhD student's supervisor will be dr hab. Michał Krzykawski, prof. UŚ.

The education lasts 4 years (8 semesters). Education aims to obtain a doctoral degree awarded by the University of Silesia in Katowice.

The doctoral student is implementing their project as an international doctorate, in cooperation with universities of the Transform4Europe consortium. Some tasks are carried out at a partner university with designated advisers.

Project description

This T4E track is about how we can know and what knowledge means in the digital era, when our actions and decision-making increasingly depend on artificial, automated and algorithmically structured information. PhD candidates will be encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of the impact this fundamental technological change has on individuals, local communities and society. A special stress in their inquiries will be put on how information technology, as a practical application of scientific knowledge, is transforming scientific and philosophical thinking, especially in relation to humanistically-oriented epistemologies. Critical and transdisciplinary perspectives on digital technologies (social media, large language models and other AI-based systems) are also welcomed. You can consider choosing this track if a) you want to study technology from continental philosophy, social philosophy, cultural theory and Kritische Theorie perspectives; b) you are willing to combine philosophical thinking with other sciences; c) you are interested in theories of social change; d) you question the Silicon Valley agenda in terms of further AI development.

Full call with requirements and criteria

See the file:  Techne-and-Episteme-1.pdf

Qualification criteria

The admission procedure consists of two stages

Stage I: assessment of the candidate's documents:

1. Assessment of the outline of a research proposal (0-3 points)

2. Assessment of the candidate's scientific achievements (0-2 points)

To qualify for the second stage, a candidate must obtain at least 3 points.

Stage II: interview

The interview assesses the candidate's predispositions for scientific work, knowledge of the required scope, level and use of English in scientific communication (total 0-5 points)

To complete the interview with a positive result, you must score at least 3 points.

After completing the interviews, the commission prepares a ranking list based on the points obtained at both stages of qualification, as well as a list of candidates who did not obtain qualifications due to a negative result at the first or second stage. Qualification for the Doctoral School is granted to the candidate who comes first on the ranking list.