Personal profile
Personal profile
As from 1 October 2023, Christoph Henning is full professor of Humanism and Philosophy at the University of Humanistic Studies. From 2014 until 2023, he was Fellow for Philosophy at the Max Weber Centre for advanced Cultural and Social Studies of the University of Erfurt in Germany. Previously, he was Assistant Professor at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland and at Zeppelin University on Lake Constance. He earned his PhD with distinction at the TU Dresden. He has written extensively on social and political philosophy, particularly the history of critical theory, philosophy of economics, and theories of happiness and its counterpart, alienation. He is currently working on the history of philosophical humanism in the 20th century, environmental ethics, and theories of ideology.
Throughout his academic career, Christoph Henning has focused on various philosophical themes related to humanism. His habilitation thesis focused on the political philosophy of “perfectionism”, where ideals of an ethics of flourishing are applied to questions of politics: what are the duties of the state in order to promote human happiness? How can we achieve a good life for all, if a good life is spelled out as a development of our human capabilities?
He is also an expert in the field of critical theory and editor of a series in the history of philosophy and humanism. His doctoral dissertation (summa cum laude at the University of Dresden) dealt with the history of Marxist idea in the field of social philosophy and social theory. He has also published books such as "The Good Life beyond Growth: New Perspectives", “Critical Theory and New Materialisms”, a “Handbook on Happiness”, an introduction to “Theories of Alienation" or a book on artistic practices (“Creativity as a vocation").
Keywords
- social philosophy
- political philosophy
- critical theory
- philosophy of economics
- happiness
- alienation
- humanism
- environmental ethics
- ideology
- perfectionism
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Humanism in Crisis: A New Draft of Humanist Philosophy
Henning, C., 14 Feb 2025, Universiteit voor Humanistiek. 40 p.Research output: Book/Report › Inaugural speech › Academic
Open AccessFile561 Downloads (Pure) -
Kritische Theorie des Autos: Vom Resonanzobjekt zum Verblendungszusammenhang
Henning, C., 22 Sept 2025, Resonanz und Kritik: Perspektiven auf eine Soziologie der Weltbeziehungen. Oberthuer, J. & Hollstein, B. (eds.). Berlin: Suhrkamp, p. 532 541 p. 6Translated title of the contribution :Critical Theory of Cars: From resonance to delusion Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic
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Sinners: Was ein Vampirfilm über den Humanismus verrät
Henning, C., 1 Jul 2025Research output: Online publication or non-textual form › Web publication › Popular
Open Access -
Where to aim with multispecies climate justice? A critical realist account
van Vugt, J., de Ruiter, A. & Henning, C., 7 Nov 2025, In: Environmental Politics.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open Access -
Zwischen Räumen: Wie sich Nähe und Distanz in Städten durch die Sharing Economy verändern
Oberthuer, J., Henning, C., Janzig, M., Katzer, H. & Bönnighausen, H., 27 Jan 2025, In: Berliner Journal fur Soziologie. 34, 4, p. 551-580 30 p., 3.Translated title of the contribution :In between spaces: How proximity and distance in cities are changing through the sharing economy Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Der Begriff der abstrakten Arbeit in der Philosophie der Moderne
Henning, C. (Examiner)
29 Oct 2029Activity: Supervision / Examination PHD › PhD supervision at external institution
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Epistemology and Politcs within the PCI (working title)
Henning, C. (Examiner)
1 Feb 2026 → 1 May 2026Activity: Supervision / Examination PHD › PhD supervision at external institution
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The Class Alliance Behind the Techno-Oligarchy and Its Right-Wing Ideological Foundations
Henning, C. (Speaker)
29 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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The table in Karl Marx's writing
Henning, C. (Speaker)
4 Dec 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Ecology of the Enligthenment: A Defense
Henning, C. (Speaker)
1 Dec 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk