JULIAN RATCLIFFE

I am a Postdoctoral Associate of the Oxford Philosophy Faculty. I completed my DPhil in Philosophy at the University of Oxford in June 2025.

I am primarily interested in genealogy, the theory of meaning, the structure of normativity, and social critique.

My current research focusses on the normative structure of genealogy and the contingency of our conceptual frameworks. I aim to answer the question of whether the contingency of our concepts undermines their normative authority over our linguistic conduct and, if so, what we ought do in response.

I was awarded a Royal Institute of Philosophy Student Bursary to support my research in 2023.

Before the DPhil, I completed an MPhilStud in Philosophy from King's College London and a BA in Philosophy from University College London.

Between my master’s and doctoral studies I worked as an international development consultant.