27 March 2026

In fifty years Johannes Heinrichs has written more than forty books, all of which start from one observation: the encounter of two people has four stages, and after the fourth there is no fifth. From this sequence of stages he develops a theory of action, of language, of society and of democracy. His own books, however, presuppose a fair amount of prior education.

That is why we offer books that make access easier, each with a different focus.

The overview: Introduction to Reflexive Systems Theory

Johannes Heinrichs’ thought for everyone.

The four stages of reflection shown in everyday scenes – a meeting, a quarrel at the breakfast table – and what follows from them for society, democracy, language, art and mysticism. No prior knowledge needed; good as a first contact.

→ Introduction to Reflexive Systems Theory

The map: The Discovery of Johannes Heinrichs

What he discovered and where to begin reading him.

Field by field, what Heinrichs has to offer – action, language, society, democracy, nature – and for each the book in which it is worked out. A table says where to start depending on where you come from.

→ The Discovery of Johannes Heinrichs

The AI application: Reflexive Artificial Intelligence

Heinrichs’ theory of reflection and artificial intelligence.

What does the four-stage logic of reflection say about the limits and possibilities of today’s AI systems? The book develops a theory of AI on its basis. For AI researchers, developers and everyone looking for a well-founded position in the AI debates.

→ Reflexive Artificial Intelligence

The practical application: Reflexive Systems Theory

Cooperation, conflicts, artificial intelligence.

How can Heinrichs’ logic of reflection be applied to concrete tasks? To peace processes, to organisations, to the question of how cooperation succeeds under uncertainty.

→ Reflexive Systems Theory

How the books are connected

The introduction provides the first access. Reflexive Artificial Intelligence and Reflexive Systems Theory show what can be done with this philosophy. All of them can be read independently of one another.

And if you then want to read Heinrichs in the original: his books are on the author page, most recently Dialectics as Logic of Reflection and The Cosmic Kaleidoscope.

Reflexivity Press