Eline Gerritsen
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elineg.bsky.social
Eline Gerritsen
@elineg.bsky.social
320 followers 510 following 160 posts
Postdoc in philosophy at university of Hamburg. Metaethics, normativity, social norms. Also books, ballet and baking.
elinegerritsen.com
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elineg.bsky.social
To break my streak of negative academia posts:

I currently get to do teaching prep on an interesting topic I wouldn't otherwise think about (ethics of adblockers), with a great snack.
A chocolate stroopwafel (Dutch cookie) on top of a mug with the print 'Truth conquers all'
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
elineg.bsky.social
My new paper is already out! Paper title & aim (+ description of how I spent years of my life): Demystifying Authoritative Normativity. Abstract in image.

Now open access in Journal of Ethics link.springer.com/article/10.1...

#philsky #philosophy
Abstract: It is increasingly common in metanormative debates to distinguish between two kinds of normativity: formal normativity, which all norms have, and authoritative normativity, which is a significant force not all norms have. Yet, we lack a clear and neutral understanding of the concept of authoritative normativity. In this paper, I highlight and dispel common misconceptions that stand in the way of a careful debate. In particular, I argue that current discussions of authoritative normativity are shaped by the pervasive but unwarranted non-naturalist idea that authority must be an irreducibly normative and intrinsic property. This makes authoritative normativity seem more mysterious than it needs to be, fuelling normative scepticism. With demanding preconceptions out of the way, there is conceptual room for explaining the authority of norms with natural facts about agents or their commitments. I conclude that we must not dismiss metaphysically naturalist metanormative theories as mere theories of formal normativity.
August 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
elineg.bsky.social
The text on the back is not exactly what I was expecting...
The front of The Routledge Handbook of Practical Reason Back of a book, describing a handbook on community-based tourism management
July 19, 2025 at 6:48 PM
elineg.bsky.social
Miss Manners solving the issue of free speech on campus - in 1993.

(in Judith Martin, "A Philosophy of Etiquette", 355-6)
The current controversy about so-called free speech on university campuses shows that the discussion of the philosophical basis of etiquette is not an amusing little diversion, but a complex problem whose solution is of great practical significance for our modern society. Those who acknowledge that the law properly permits offensive speech, feel helpless to restrain it without compromising the Constitution. And yet unrestrained speech sabotages the special trust of the university, which is not to protect free speech, but to foster free inquiry. Etiquette provides the needed restraints. Just as courtroom etiquette forbids forms of speech and behavior that the law itself protects in other contexts, the classroom etiquette must restrain offensive speech, while protecting the civil expression of offensive ideas. Both courtroom and classroom are dedicated to establishing truth through controversy, but neither can do so when there are no etiquette rules requiring orderly argument and respect for others.
June 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
elineg.bsky.social
Very useful review of a pasta recipe
3/5, made it for the wife and she stayed with me
May 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
elineg.bsky.social
On the 10th and 11th we're having our workshop on social normativity in Stockholm, bringing together metaethicists and social ontologists to develop a joint debate on this topic. All welcome!
October 3, 2024 at 11:59 AM
elineg.bsky.social
Happy Kant day! To celebrate, here is the only meme my extremely offline partner knows (and enjoys after I explained the format)
Left: text 'how you look in selfies', with a handsome painting of a man falsely believed to be Kant. Right: 'How you look in group pictures', with an unflattering painting of Kant
April 22, 2024 at 8:05 PM