RESEARCH PROJECTS
My research is in the field of political philosophy and epistemology, social and feminist philosophy, and applied ethics -- with a particular focus on the intersection of social and institutional injustices, epistemic oppression, recognition failures, social ontology, and marginalized agency under ideological and oppressive social structures. I'm also interested in philosophy of disability and migration ethics. I'm currently working on the following three projects:
(1) Epistemic Injustice in Relation to Recognition Theory
In this research project, I address the relation between theories of epistemic injustice (including theories of ignorance and standpoint epistemology) and recognition theory. I defend the claim that forms of epistemic injustice are always also recognition failures and work on a theory according to which our moral personhood as well as our knowledge is shaped by our moral and epistemic communities. For this, I draw on theories of epistemic injustice and recognition theory as well as standpoint epistemology, African, and indigenous theories of knowledge. Furthermore, I aim to use the theoretical insights from these intersectional approaches for a theory of institutional epistemology and fragile epistemic subjects (see below), showing that fragile epistemic subjects are positioned both advantageously as well as disadvantageously in epistemically charged situations and, hence, that there is a dialectical relationship between vulnerability and agency. Finally, I'm interested in the debate on decolonizing epistemic injustice theories and its intersection with indigenous knowledge and (colonial) racism against Roma and Sinti in the context of Europe.
The project is funded by the DFG and I've recently finished working on a monograph on epistemic injustice (de Gruyter, forthcoming 2024) as well as an edited collection on the topic, a special issue on decolonizing epistemic injustices (Inquiry) and another one on social movements (Feminist Philosophy Quarterly).
(2) Institutional Epistemology & Epistemic Infrastructure: Fragile Epistemic Subjects in the Context of Migration and Disability
In this research project, I develop a theory of fragile epistemic subjects that draws on foundations of standpoint epistemology and action theory to provide important insights into the potential knowledge, vulnerability, and agency of marginalized social groups and how these play out in democratic institutions. My aim is to develop a generalized theory of fragile epistemic agency of marginalized social groups to gain insight on how democratic institutional practices have to be structured to be both epistemically just and able to counter social injustices and pernicious epistemic practices. My particular focus is on practices within (a) institutions that process asylum claims, (b) institutions of medical care (broadly defined) for persons with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses, and (c) schools as institutions of education. The research question can be summarized as follows: How can an analysis of the epistemic specificities that arise in these particular institutional contexts and of the epistemic agency that vulnerable persons (here: refugees, disabled and chronically ill persons, and students) help to improve institutional practices in democratic societies? While being primarily interested in questions of epistemology, the project touches on social ontology (specifically, theories of vulnerability, agency, and identity), applied ethics (specifically, theories of responsibility and consent), as well as sociology of organizations and institutions.
I was visiting researcher at the department of philosophy and the Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs at San Diego State University in 2023, working with Joesph Stramondo on institutional epistemology in the context of disability and chronic illness. I'm also currently working on epistemic injustices in the context of asylum claims (with a particular focus on LGBTQI-refugees) with Kerri Woods at Leeds University and on the intersection of the sociology of institutions and social epistemology with Millicent Churcher at Freie University and Sydney University.
(3) Non-Ideal Theory and Critical Analyses of Social Injustice
In this research project I am interested in methodological questions of normative philosophy on the one hand and applied questions on the other. I argue that non-ideal theory should be understood as a method oriented towards standpoint epistemology and ideology critique. Furthermore, I'm investigating to what extent non-ideal theory can help to teach critical thinking and thus counteract conspiracy theories, fake news and problematic resentment. For this purpose, I am currently working with Anne Burkhard, David Löwenstein, and Lena Westerhorstmann on a didactics of listening (taking its inspiration from eyewitness accounts about the Shoah) to be used in highschools and I'm especially interested in the possibilities of reducing (racist and antisemitic) resentments. I'm also currently editing the Routledge Handbook of Non-Ideal Theory (forthcoming in 2024) with Johanna Müller.
(1) Epistemic Injustice in Relation to Recognition Theory
In this research project, I address the relation between theories of epistemic injustice (including theories of ignorance and standpoint epistemology) and recognition theory. I defend the claim that forms of epistemic injustice are always also recognition failures and work on a theory according to which our moral personhood as well as our knowledge is shaped by our moral and epistemic communities. For this, I draw on theories of epistemic injustice and recognition theory as well as standpoint epistemology, African, and indigenous theories of knowledge. Furthermore, I aim to use the theoretical insights from these intersectional approaches for a theory of institutional epistemology and fragile epistemic subjects (see below), showing that fragile epistemic subjects are positioned both advantageously as well as disadvantageously in epistemically charged situations and, hence, that there is a dialectical relationship between vulnerability and agency. Finally, I'm interested in the debate on decolonizing epistemic injustice theories and its intersection with indigenous knowledge and (colonial) racism against Roma and Sinti in the context of Europe.
The project is funded by the DFG and I've recently finished working on a monograph on epistemic injustice (de Gruyter, forthcoming 2024) as well as an edited collection on the topic, a special issue on decolonizing epistemic injustices (Inquiry) and another one on social movements (Feminist Philosophy Quarterly).
(2) Institutional Epistemology & Epistemic Infrastructure: Fragile Epistemic Subjects in the Context of Migration and Disability
In this research project, I develop a theory of fragile epistemic subjects that draws on foundations of standpoint epistemology and action theory to provide important insights into the potential knowledge, vulnerability, and agency of marginalized social groups and how these play out in democratic institutions. My aim is to develop a generalized theory of fragile epistemic agency of marginalized social groups to gain insight on how democratic institutional practices have to be structured to be both epistemically just and able to counter social injustices and pernicious epistemic practices. My particular focus is on practices within (a) institutions that process asylum claims, (b) institutions of medical care (broadly defined) for persons with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses, and (c) schools as institutions of education. The research question can be summarized as follows: How can an analysis of the epistemic specificities that arise in these particular institutional contexts and of the epistemic agency that vulnerable persons (here: refugees, disabled and chronically ill persons, and students) help to improve institutional practices in democratic societies? While being primarily interested in questions of epistemology, the project touches on social ontology (specifically, theories of vulnerability, agency, and identity), applied ethics (specifically, theories of responsibility and consent), as well as sociology of organizations and institutions.
I was visiting researcher at the department of philosophy and the Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs at San Diego State University in 2023, working with Joesph Stramondo on institutional epistemology in the context of disability and chronic illness. I'm also currently working on epistemic injustices in the context of asylum claims (with a particular focus on LGBTQI-refugees) with Kerri Woods at Leeds University and on the intersection of the sociology of institutions and social epistemology with Millicent Churcher at Freie University and Sydney University.
(3) Non-Ideal Theory and Critical Analyses of Social Injustice
In this research project I am interested in methodological questions of normative philosophy on the one hand and applied questions on the other. I argue that non-ideal theory should be understood as a method oriented towards standpoint epistemology and ideology critique. Furthermore, I'm investigating to what extent non-ideal theory can help to teach critical thinking and thus counteract conspiracy theories, fake news and problematic resentment. For this purpose, I am currently working with Anne Burkhard, David Löwenstein, and Lena Westerhorstmann on a didactics of listening (taking its inspiration from eyewitness accounts about the Shoah) to be used in highschools and I'm especially interested in the possibilities of reducing (racist and antisemitic) resentments. I'm also currently editing the Routledge Handbook of Non-Ideal Theory (forthcoming in 2024) with Johanna Müller.
SELECTED TALKS (*indicates keynote)
2023
Epistemic Injustice, Marginalized Knowledges, and Trust Conflicts Conference, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt & Forschungsinitiative ConTrust; invited by Regina Schidel & Martin Saar
Reproduction and the Good Life — Intersectional Perspectives Workshop, Georg-August Universität Göttingen; invited by Isabella Marcinski-Michel & Claudia Wiesemann
Social Categories and Injustice Conference, Lund University; invited by Marianna Leventi *
Workshop: Wie weiter mit der politischen Epistemologie?, Freiburg University; invited by Frieder Vogelmann & Kristina Lepold
Research Colloquium Philosophy, Georg-August University Göttingen; invited by Christine Bratu
Workshop: Decolonizing Epistemic Injustice, Tromsø University; invited by Kerstin Reibold
PhD Supervision Day, Tromsø University; invited by Kerstin Reibold
Public Lecture, Oslo University; invited by Hugo Ribeiro Mota
2022
Philosophy of Sex Conference, Humboldt University of Berlin; invited by Christine Bratu & Mirjam Müller *
MANCEPT Research Seminar, University of Manchester; invited by Clara Sandelind
Philosophie der Liebe und Sexualität Workshop, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie & Universität Salzburg, CEPR (refereed)
Department of Philosophy Institutskolloquium, Hamburg University; invited by Stefan Rinner
Women in Philosophy & GenderTalks, Bayreuth University; invited by Katharina Kaufmann & Eugenia Zanchet
The Meaning of Epistemic Injustice in Philosophy Conference, Munich School of Philosophy; invited by Lena Schützle *
IX. Tagung für Praktische Philosophie, Salzburg University (refereed)
Department of Philosophy Institutskolloquium, Oldenburg University; invited by Tilo Wesche
GAP.11, Humboldt University of Berlin (refereed)
Refugees and the Duty of Rescue Conference, Durham University (refereed)
2021
Understanding Gendered Violence: The Value of Testimonial and Qualitative Evidence Workshop, University of Cambridge; invited by Christopher Clarke
NoVaMigra's Workshop Values in an Imperfect World: Migration ethics and non-ideal conditions, University Duisburg-Essen (refereed)
MANCEPT Workshop on Epistemic Injustice in Asylum Policy and Practice, Manchester University (refereed)
2nd Munich Graduate Conference in Ethics, LMU; invited by Amelie Hofmann *
Research Colloquium Political Theory, Gießen University; invited by Regina Kreide
Research Colloquium Political Theory, Hamburg University; invited by Peter Niesen & Svenja Ahlhaus
2020
Workshop on Recognition, Migration, and Critical Theory, The Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research of the University of Salzburg (refereed)
Kolloquium Politische Theorie, Hochschule für Politik München; invited by Johanna Müller & Lisa Herzog
Ethik-Konversationen, LMU; invited by André Grahle
Wogap/rogap Discussion, MIT; invited by Sally Haslanger
Epistemic Injustice, Marginalized Knowledges, and Trust Conflicts Conference, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt & Forschungsinitiative ConTrust; invited by Regina Schidel & Martin Saar
Reproduction and the Good Life — Intersectional Perspectives Workshop, Georg-August Universität Göttingen; invited by Isabella Marcinski-Michel & Claudia Wiesemann
Social Categories and Injustice Conference, Lund University; invited by Marianna Leventi *
Workshop: Wie weiter mit der politischen Epistemologie?, Freiburg University; invited by Frieder Vogelmann & Kristina Lepold
Research Colloquium Philosophy, Georg-August University Göttingen; invited by Christine Bratu
Workshop: Decolonizing Epistemic Injustice, Tromsø University; invited by Kerstin Reibold
PhD Supervision Day, Tromsø University; invited by Kerstin Reibold
Public Lecture, Oslo University; invited by Hugo Ribeiro Mota
2022
Philosophy of Sex Conference, Humboldt University of Berlin; invited by Christine Bratu & Mirjam Müller *
MANCEPT Research Seminar, University of Manchester; invited by Clara Sandelind
Philosophie der Liebe und Sexualität Workshop, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie & Universität Salzburg, CEPR (refereed)
Department of Philosophy Institutskolloquium, Hamburg University; invited by Stefan Rinner
Women in Philosophy & GenderTalks, Bayreuth University; invited by Katharina Kaufmann & Eugenia Zanchet
The Meaning of Epistemic Injustice in Philosophy Conference, Munich School of Philosophy; invited by Lena Schützle *
IX. Tagung für Praktische Philosophie, Salzburg University (refereed)
Department of Philosophy Institutskolloquium, Oldenburg University; invited by Tilo Wesche
GAP.11, Humboldt University of Berlin (refereed)
Refugees and the Duty of Rescue Conference, Durham University (refereed)
2021
Understanding Gendered Violence: The Value of Testimonial and Qualitative Evidence Workshop, University of Cambridge; invited by Christopher Clarke
NoVaMigra's Workshop Values in an Imperfect World: Migration ethics and non-ideal conditions, University Duisburg-Essen (refereed)
MANCEPT Workshop on Epistemic Injustice in Asylum Policy and Practice, Manchester University (refereed)
2nd Munich Graduate Conference in Ethics, LMU; invited by Amelie Hofmann *
Research Colloquium Political Theory, Gießen University; invited by Regina Kreide
Research Colloquium Political Theory, Hamburg University; invited by Peter Niesen & Svenja Ahlhaus
2020
Workshop on Recognition, Migration, and Critical Theory, The Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research of the University of Salzburg (refereed)
Kolloquium Politische Theorie, Hochschule für Politik München; invited by Johanna Müller & Lisa Herzog
Ethik-Konversationen, LMU; invited by André Grahle
Wogap/rogap Discussion, MIT; invited by Sally Haslanger