International Workshop

Quantification and Human Differentiation

Nov 5-6, 2026

organized by Dr. Anja-Maria Bassimir and Prof. Dr. Axel Schäfer

In this workshop, we will examine the historical processes of quantification and the creation of statistical individuals and commodified human lives. We will question which human-differentiating distinctions factor into quantification processes and how topics such as the standard of living, sociality, productivity, and normality/deviance become the basis for new human differentiations.

At our two-day international workshop, we will discuss aspects of “quantification and human differentiation,” based on published work by acclaimed academics. The workshop will feature seven presenters who have published on the topic. The selection of texts (reading list available here) will be the basis for the workshop discussions. The keynote speaker will start us off with a longer presentation (approximately 20 minutes). Other presenters will have approximately 10 minutes to share the main arguments and findings from their research. The focus of the workshop are moderated discussions between the presenters and the workshop participants. Workshop participants are colleagues (PhD students, postdocs, and professors) from the Collaborative Research Center 1482 Human Differentiation and MA students and colleagues from the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies.

Program
Please click here to view an abstract, the full schedule, and more information on the invited speakers.
In addition, you can find a reading list here, in order to prepare

Contact/Registration
If you are interested in attending (parts of) the workshop, please contact Dr. Anja-Maria Bassimir.