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. I also work on feminist philosophy and epistemology.

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.