Ohne Respekt. Eine soziale Krise
book · First published 2026
Author guide
Byung-Chul Han Books in Order
Byung-Chul Han (born 1959 near Seoul) studied metallurgy in Korea before studying philosophy, German literature, and Catholic theology in Germany. He taught philosophy, media theory, and cultural studies in Karlsruhe and Berlin. His German-language books examine contemporary subjectivity, neoliberalism, digitalization, power, aesthetics, ritual, contemplation, and social relations.
philosophycultural criticismsocial theorymedia philosophyaesthetics
Catalog record updated .
Byung-Chul Han's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Müdigkeitsgesellschaft
The concise and widely recognized introduction to Han's critique of contemporary achievement-oriented society.
Transparenzgesellschaft
A foundational entry point into Han's analysis of digital visibility, disclosure, and neoliberal social norms.
Psychopolitik. Neoliberalismus und die neuen Machttechniken
A useful starting point for his account of neoliberal power and technologically enabled self-exploitation.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Essays and speeches (1)
- Kapitalismus und Todestrieb. Essays und Interviews
essay-collection · 2019
Other (32)
- Martin Heidegger. Eine Einführung
book · 1999
- Philosophie des Zen-Buddhismus
book · 2002
- Tod und Alterität
book · 2002
- Hyperkulturalität. Kultur und Globalisierung
book · 2005
- Was ist Macht?
book · 2005
En relación con el concepto de "poder", sigue reinando el caos teórico. Frente a todo lo que el fenómeno tiene de obvio tenemos todo lo que el concepto tiene de oscuro. Para unos, poder significa opresión; para otros, es un elemento…
- Duft der Zeit. Ein philosophischer Essay zur Kunst des Verweilens
book · 2009
Die heutige Zeitkrise hängt nicht zuletzt mit der Verabsolutierung der vita activa zusammen. Sie führt zu einem Imperativ der Arbeit, der den Menschen zu einem arbeitenden Tier (animal laborans) degradiert. Die Hyperaktivität des Alltags…
- Müdigkeitsgesellschaft
book · 2010
- Shanzhai. Dekonstruktion auf Chinesisch
book · 2011
- Topologie der Gewalt
book · 2011
- Transparenzgesellschaft
book · 2012
- Agonie des Eros
book · 2012
- Im Schwarm. Ansichten des Digitalen
book · 2013
Die digitale Vernetzung bringt einen Paradigmenwechsel mit sich, der in seiner Konsequenz genauso weitreichend ist wie der Buchdruck. Sie hat Konsequenzen bis in die Tiefenstruktur des Denkens, der Empfindung und des Habitus. So brauchten…
- Die Errettung des Schönen
book · 2015
- Lob der Erde. Eine Reise in den Garten
book · 2018
- Palliativgesellschaft. Schmerz heute
book · 2020
- Undinge. Umbrüche der Lebenswelt
book · 2021
Heute bewohnen wir nicht mehr Erde und Himmel, sondern Google Earth und Cloud. Informationen beherrschen unsere Lebenswelt. Wir berauschen uns regelrecht an Kommunikation. Byung-Chul Hans Kritik der Informationsgesellschaft klärt uns über…
- Vita Contemplativa oder von der Untätigkeit
book · 2022
In our busy and hurried lives, we are losing the ability to be inactive. Human existence becomes fully absorbed by activity – even leisure, treated as a respite from work, becomes part of the same logic. Intense life today means first of…
- Die Krise der Narration
book · 2023
- Sprechen über Gott. Ein Dialog mit Simone Weil
book · 2025
- Ohne Respekt. Eine soziale Krise
book · 2026
Frequently asked questions about Byung-Chul Han
Is Byung-Chul Han Korean or German?
Byung-Chul Han is South Korean-born and has built his academic career in Germany. He is commonly described as a Korean-born German philosopher and cultural theorist.
Sources: byungchulhan.com (opens in a new tab)mitpress.mit.edu (opens in a new tab)
What did Byung-Chul Han study before becoming a philosopher?
He first studied metallurgy in Seoul, then moved to Germany to study philosophy, German literature, and theology. He earned a PhD in philosophy from the University of Freiburg in 1994 with a thesis on Martin Heidegger.
Sources: zeit.de (opens in a new tab)fpa.es (opens in a new tab)
Where has Byung-Chul Han taught?
Han taught at the University of Basel and later worked at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design. He has also taught philosophy and cultural studies at Berlin University of the Arts.
Sources: fpa.es (opens in a new tab)cccb.org (opens in a new tab)
What philosophical influences and themes define Byung-Chul Han’s work?
Martin Heidegger is a central influence, reflected in Han’s doctoral research. His cultural criticism focuses especially on neoliberalism, digitalization, power, social isolation, and the erosion of reflection and contemplation.
Sources: fpa.es (opens in a new tab)cccb.org (opens in a new tab)
What awards has Byung-Chul Han received?
He received the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities, as well as the Prix Bristol des Lumières and Austria’s Salzburg State Prize for Future Research in 2016.
Source: fpa.es (opens in a new tab)