How contextual and institutional factors shape the interpretation of rules

Many of the texts that govern how people do their jobs — laws, regulations, standards, procedural definitions — are expressed in language that admits of more than one interpretation. How do people resolve this ambiguity in practice? Experimental jurisprudence has investigated this question by comparing ordinary citizens with legal professionals such as judges and lawyers. But many rules are interpreted by people who are neither — contractors, administrators, compliance officers — whose understanding of what the rules require is shaped by the organizational roles they occupy.

The MetaContext Project is an interdisciplinary research project investigating how contextual factors stemming from job roles shape the interpretation of regulatory and procedural language. We use qualitative methods — including interviews with people who apply rules in their work — to develop hypotheses about factors influencing interpretation, and then test those hypotheses experimentally.

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join us in extending this research to new domains. The position offers the opportunity to work on foundational questions in philosophy of language — about semantic underdetermination, context, and successful communication — in settings where they have practical stakes.

Relevant backgrounds include experimental philosophy, philosophy of language, empirical legal studies, organizational economics, behavioural economics, cognitive science, or organizational behaviour.

Profile of supervisor Alex Davies, Associate Professor of Philosophy of Language

Profile of supervisor Kurmet Kivipõld, Associate Professor of Management

Webpage of the MetaCotext Project

Contant Alex Davies - alexander.stewart.davies@ut.ee

Contact Kurmet Kivipõld - kurmet.kivipold@ut.ee