Dr. Henrike Kohpeiß
Vita
I an a philosopher, working primarily on critical theory, philosophy of emotion, Black Studies, feminist philosophy and aesthetics.
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Leuphana Transformation Lab, studying affects of Transformation, the relationship between crises and transformation and the notion of Transformation Literacy.
In my current project Respect for Reality, I seek to understand the social affective dynamics that lead to a derealization of the global ecological crisis. I initiate a dialogue between different methodologies like psychoanalysis, decolonial critique of extractivism, phenomenology and aesthetics of devastation in order to generate insights into the current experience of planetary collapse.
I was formerly employed at the CRC “Affective Societies” at Free University, Berlin (2019-2025), where I completed my doctoral degree in Philosophy with summa cum laude. The book resulting from this work was published in 2023 (Campus) and released as "Bourgeois Coldness" in English translation in 2025 (divided).
I studied philosophy and applied theatre studies in Berlin, Rome, Vienna and Gießen. My work and teaching are currently focused on critical theory, institutions, theories of affect and capitalism and psychoanalysis. In addition to my academic research, I organize and host events at Volksbühne Berlin and other venues.
Keywords: Social philosophy, Black Studies, philosophy of affect and emotion, critical theory, aesthetics, feminist philosophy
Publications
Books and anthologies
- Respect for Reality: Unfeeling and Ecological Catastrophe
Henrike Kohpeiß (Author) , 2025 , in: Graduate Faculty Philosophy Journal, 46, 2 , p. 539-560 , 22 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Missed Feelings: Sexual Violence and the Affective Mediation of Harm
Henrike Kohpeiß (Author) , 2023 , in: Media Theory, 7, 2 , p. 225-244 , 20 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Journal contributions
- Respect for Reality: Unfeeling and Ecological Catastrophe
Henrike Kohpeiß (Author) , 01.10.2025 , in: Graduate Faculty Philosophy Journal, 46, 2 , p. 539-560 , 22 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Missed Feelings: Sexual Violence and the Affective Mediation of Harm
Henrike Kohpeiß (Author) , 26.12.2023 , in: Media Theory, 7, 2 , p. 225-244 , 20 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Contributions to collected editions/anthologies
- Unfeeling
Henrike Kohpeiß (Author) , 16.12.2025 London , p. 245-254 , 9 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review
Courses
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Through a blended-learning format combining self-directed study with interactive sessions, students engage with key ethical frameworks and apply them to contemporary transformation processes such as climate transitions, digitalization, and institutional reform as well as the diverse transformation research. The seminar foregrounds questions of justice, inclusion, and responsibility, encouraging participants to critically reflect on how transformation processes can reproduce or exacerbate existing inequalities across lines of race, class, gender, geography, and disciplinary positioning.
Core components of the seminar include:
- Critical examination of ethical theories relevant to transformation, including justice-based, care-based, and decolonial perspectives
- Reflection of one‘s own role in transformation research, including ethics guidelines and the handling of ethical dilemma
- Analysis of case studies highlighting unequal impacts and contested narratives of transformation
- Reflection on the role of expertise, knowledge production, and scientific practice within transformation processes
- Exploration of power relations, institutional constraints, and structural inequalities shaping transformation outcomes
- Engagement with questions of accountability, participation, and legitimacy in decision-making processes
Students are encouraged to relate these discussions to their own research contexts and professional roles, reflecting on their positionality and responsibilities within broader transformation dynamics. The seminar fosters an environment of dialogue and reflexivity, with particular attention to diversity, inclusion, and the ethical implications of action and inaction in times of profound change.
The seminar uses a co-created format in which elements of the syllabus—such as topics, case studies, and discussion formats—are collaboratively shaped with participants. While grounded in key ethical frameworks, the course remains flexible and adapts to students’ interests and research contexts.