She raises the topical question of whether we can still make autonomous choices in the face of online manipulation. In doing so, Jongepier examines the tensions between ‘algorithmic authority’ and ‘first-person authority’. Is it bad if we listen to algorithms more often than to individuals, and if so, why? And in which cases is it good to listen to algorithms rather than to individuals? Jongepier believes that when organisations increasingly rely on algorithmic systems, people are increasingly treated as objects.
Heineken Young Scientists Award 2022 in Humanities awarded to Fleur Jongepier
Philosopher Fleur Jongepier (1986), assistant professor Ethics and Political Philosophy at Radboud University, has been awarded the Heineken Young Scientists Award 2022 in the field of Humanities. The jury praised her research into the growing power of algorithms and how this affects the human capacity for autonomy and self-knowledge.
Active rol in social debate
According to the jury, Jongepier's appealing way of demonstrating the importance of in-depth scientific research and at the same time helping the public to form opinions is impressive. She asks questions and brings to the surface problems that society would otherwise ignore. Her active and important role in the current social debate translates into publications in Trouw, NRC, and de Volkskrant as well as in the prestigious Times Higher Education. In addition, she is one of the founders of the Bij naderzien philosophy blog. She also likes to sit in on talk shows every now and then.
About Fleur Jongepier
Fleur Jongepier (Eindhoven, 1986) studied philosophy at Utrecht University. She completed a research master's degree at Radboud University Nijmegen and received her PhD summa cum laude for her research on self-knowledge. She then held various appointments, including postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge. Since 2018, she has been an ethics lecturer at Radboud University in Nijmegen. Jongepier's research has resulted in several publications, including Fleur's dissertation and The Circumstances of Self-Knowledge. Recently, she and a colleague published a volume, The Philosophy of Online Manipulation (open access). In addition to the Heineken Young Scientists Award, she has been awarded a NWO Veni grant, a Niels Stensen Fellowship, and a NWO grant for a PhD in the humanities.
Heineken Young Scientists Awards
The Heineken Young Scientists Awards are awarded every two years to four highly promising young researchers working in the Netherlands. The winners are selected from four fields of science: Medical/Biomedical Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is responsible for the nomination and selection process. The award includes a cash prize of EUR 10,000 and a work of art.
Contact information
Want to know more? Please contact
- On behalf of KNAW, communication agency De Wolven, namens de KNAW, jill [at] dewolven.com (jill[at]dewolven[dot]com)
- Fleur Jongepier, fleur.jongepier [at] ru.nl (fleur[dot]jongepier[at]ru[dot]nl)
- Communication Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, +31 24 361 21 28, receptie [at] ftr.ru.nl (receptie[at]ftr[dot]ru[dot]nl)
- Theme
- Ethics, Philosophy, Society