Thanks to Stephen Hawks for pointing this out.
Introduction
LINK
In January, 2010, with the support of a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation, Florida State University launched a four-year project on free will directed by Alfred R. Mele, William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University.
The primary purpose of the project is to improve our understanding of free will in three spheres: science (especially neuroscience and social psychology); philosophy; and theology.
This webpage is a work in progress. The present version provides a sketch of the four-year project. Additional details are forthcoming.
Project Timeline
January through March 2010. Conceptual lexicon project: Alfred Mele and a small group of experts in philosophy, neuroscience, and social psychology write a free will lexicon that provides terminological guidance for grant proposals (see below).
March and April 2010. A one-year post-doctoral position in the FSU Philosophy Department for a philosopher with a special interest in free will is advertised, and an offer is made for the 2010-11 academic year.
April through September 2010. Advertising of grant programs in three areas: science of free will ($2.8 million); conceptual underpinnings of free will, round 1 ($165,000); and theology of free will, round 1 ($132,000).
September 2010 through March 2011. Letters of intent and proposals received and evaluated; awards announced.
- Science of free will. We are especially interested in research on free will in neuroscience and social psychology, but proposals originating from other scientific disciplines are also eligible. Proposals by interdisciplinary teams of scientists and philosophers are encouraged. Sample topics of interest are evidence of the existence or nonexistence of free will, various components of free will (for example, self-control and decision making), practical effects of skepticism about free will, and folk understandings of free will.
Advertising starts on April 1, 2010. Letters of intent (due 9-1-2010) of no more than 5 single-spaced pages (including budget) are solicited. Judges determine which applicants are invited to submit full proposals. Invitations are issued by October 15. Full proposals of no more than 25 pages (including budget) requesting between $200,000 and $600,000 for projects not to exceed 2.5 years are due by January 2, 2011. Final decisions will be issued by March 31, 2011 for research to begin no later than September 1, 2011.
- Conceptual underpinnings of free will. We are interested in traditional philosophical research on free will. Awards will typically be used to support sabbaticals and other research leaves. Sample topics are arguments for or against compatibilist or incompatibilist conceptions of free will, arguments for or against skepticism about free will, conceptual connections between free will and moral responsibility, problems about the conceptual possibility of free will, and attempts to resolve those problems.
Two rounds of funding will be offered. Advertising for round 1 begins on May 1, 2010. Letters of intent (due 10-1-2010) of no more than 5 single-spaced pages (including budget) are solicited. Judges determine which applicants are invited to submit full proposals. Invitations are issued by November 15. Full proposals of no more than 12 pages (including budget) requesting between $40,000 and $80,000 for projects not to exceed 12 months are due by February 15, 2011. Final decisions will be issued by March 31, 2011. Awards begin July 1, 2011. The same procedure is followed in round 2, with advertising beginning on May 1, 2011 and final decisions issued by March 31, 2012 for awards to begin July 1, 2012. Judges are strongly encouraged to make at least one award each year to a younger scholar.
Other things being equal, applicants who are willing to be residential fellows for at least one semester at Florida State University will have an advantage. Residential fellows will receive an extra $6000 for one semester or $12,000 for two semesters of residency to offset moving and housing costs.
- Theology of free will. We are interested in traditional theological research on free will, including divine free will and implications of the existence or nonexistence of a God for human free will or moral responsibility.
Two rounds of funding will be offered, following the model described under 2 above and using the same dates and figures.
March and April 2011. A one-year post-doctoral position in the FSU Philosophy Department for a philosopher with a special interest in free will is advertised, and an offer is made for the 2011-12 academic year.
May 2011 through September 2011. Advertising of grant programs in two areas: conceptual underpinnings of free will, round 2 ($165,000); and theology of free will, round 2 ($132,000).
July 2011 through June 2013. Nominations for essay prizes are received on a rolling basis. Up to ten prizes of $3000 each are awarded to authors of essays on free will published in popular venues. Awards are announced in September 2011, 2012, and 2013.
August 2011. Research colloquium 1.
October 2011 through March 2012. Letters of intent and proposals received and evaluated for round 2 of the conceptual underpinnings and theology of free will grant programs; awards announced. For details, see descriptions under round 1 above. Awards begin July 1, 2012.
December 2011 through January 15, 2012. Advertising for a 2012 summer seminar on free will and science at Florida State University. This two-week seminar, directed by Alfred Mele, is for recent Ph.D.’s (Ph.D. received in 2009 or later) and graduate students. Each selected seminar member will receive a $1500 stipend for attending plus travel and lodging costs.
January 15 to March 1, 2012. Summer seminar applications received; awards offered. Applications are due by January 15. Awards are announced by March 1.
March and April 2012. A one-year post-doctoral position in the FSU Philosophy Department for a philosopher with a special interest in free will is advertised, and an offer is made for the 2012-13 academic year.
June 2012. Two-week seminar on free will and science at Florida State University (Alfred Mele, director).