A trio of philosophers atVrije Universiteit Amsterdamhave won1.2 million (approximately $1.3 million) grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundationto study how universities can best enable epistemic progress in the humanities.

The three-year project is led byRen van Woudenberg, Jeroen de Ridder, and Rik Peels. They write:

The project does two things. First, it develops institutional policies and procedures foruniversities that facilitate epistemic progress.Specifically, Standard OperatingProcedures(SOPs, as we call them) for research integrity will be designed as well as training and supportprograms for mentors and supervisors. Second, it aimsto contribute directly to epistemicp rogress in the humanities by carrying out replications of twocornerstone studies, byclarifying the nature of aprominent type of humanitiesexplanations, namely non-causalexplanations, by clarifyingthe relations between thesciences and the humanities, bywritinga textbook on the philosophy ofthe humanities defending the possibility of progress inthehumanities, and by articulating what progress in theology can amount to.

Ren van Woudenberg, Jeroen de Ridder, and Rik Peels

The project arose in response to academia being shakenby reports about questionable research practices and concerns about the epistemic value and respectability of the humanities in the university.

The funding will support research and writing, lectures, conferences, seminars, summer schools, a PhD student, and three post-doctoral researchers. More details here.

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Philosophers Win $1.3 Million Grant to Study Epistemic Progress in the University - Daily Nous