New Books Network Henrike Kohpeiß, "Bourgeois Coldness" (Divided Publishing, 2025)
Dec 27, 2025
Henrike Kohpeiß is a philosopher and postdoctoral scholar whose work, "Bourgeois Coldness," investigates how affluent subjectivities protect themselves from systemic violence. In this discussion, she defines bourgeois coldness as a strategy that maintains a safe emotional distance from societal catastrophes. Kohpeiß connects critical theory with Black studies, revealing important dialogues between Adorno, Horkheimer, and contemporary issues like anti-Palestinian racism. She emphasizes understanding the affective structures of bourgeois democracies to promote political clarity and more inclusive engagement.
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Coldness As A Shield For Moral Self-Image
- Bourgeois coldness is an affective strategy that shields bourgeois subjects from the violence they enact.
- It preserves a moral self-image through selective, performative empathy while bracketing systemic violence.
Virtuosity Of Performed Empathy
- Bourgeois coldness is not total indifference but a virtuoso performance mixing claimed morality and isolated empathy.
- This balance stabilizes a self-image of civility while concealing ties to colonial and exploitative violence.
Mix Methods To Study Affective Politics
- Use varied methods: combine textual exegesis with media analysis and genealogy to study affective politics.
- Develop inventive methods like 'materialist affect inquiry' when canonical methods fall short.