Foundation For
Philosophical Orientationis orient oneself. Orientation precedes everything else,
all perceiving, thinking, and acting;
it decides which directions we pursue.
It seems simple but is very complex,
and it has so far hardly been explored.
Our Mission
The Foundation for Philosophical Orientation (FPO) is based on the philosophy of orientation, as developed by Werner Stegmaier, and strives to promote, research, and further develop this philosophy in theory and practice in academia and among the general public.
The FPO provides a place and a platform for philosophical research and investigation into not only the conditions and structures of human orientation, but also to what extent philosophical orientations are necessary, possible, and beneficial in everyday life. It seeks to philosophically reflect and confront the vast reorientations humanity is facing in the 21st century.
The FPO is neither for profit, nor does it follow any political or religious aims. It wants to support and promote orientation research not only in academia, but also in cooperation with people who are not able to withdraw into quiet rooms for reflection and who are professionally confronted with surprising situations ā entrepreneurs and their employees, politicians, diplomats, journalists, lawyers, doctors, teachers, ministers, artists, athletes, marketeers, and many others. They all develop skills and competences of orientation that philosophy has traditionally passed over.
News and Updates
Welcome to the newest member of our advisory council, Dr. Douglas Giles, PhD!šššā¼ļø Dr. Douglas Giles is an adjunct assistant professor of philosophy at Elmhurst...
In a brand new essay, Prof. Kathleen Higgins explores the profound disorientation caused by grief and examines how aesthetic experiencesāsuch as rituals, art, and...
This seminar will take place on Thursdays 10 a.m. ā 12 p.m. US Central Time, starting on April 10, 2025. The teachers are: Dr. Natalia Hartinger, George Ogata, Dr....
At the beginnings of Western philosophy, the dividing lines to āEasternā thought were blurry. Before the Logos became the dominant concept for organizing knowledge...
In a brand new essay, Dr. Douglas Giles discusses the potential for an understanding of politics through the philosophy of orientation. He writes that Politics is...
Announcing a new seminar: "Orientations in Politics" We will use the terminology of the philosophy of orientation in order to analyze historical and contemporary...
Following the thought-provokingĀ seminar on Nietzscheās late writingsĀ last year, we are thrilled to announce the second part of ourĀ Late Nietzsche Seminars, this time...
Today we assume that change in all areas of life, including its most basic conditions, will continue to accelerate. How can we manage to continually reorient ourselves?...
Today, we are thrilled to celebrate theĀ 5th birthdayĀ of the Foundation for Philosophical Orientation. On this day, five years ago, on October 25, 2019, we inaugurated...
Activities and Projects
Philosophical orientation cannot and should not only be studied, but it must also prove itself in practice. Therefore, the FPO will pursue a variety of projects, some academic in nature, many intended for the general public. The planned projects will continuously be developed and expanded.
PhD DisĀserĀtation FellowĀships
PhiloĀsophiĀcal Prize ComĀpeĀtiĀtion
Virtual Seminar
The Philosophy
of Orientation
A New Philosophical Approach
Philosophy has, from its very beginnings and throughout history, continually reoriented itself. Today, institutionalized at universities, philosophy oftentimes seems confined to either making terms more precise or to justifying moral norms. The philosophy of orientation, as Werner Stegmaier has developed it over several decades, instead observes and reflects how different philosophies orient themselves from different standpoints, in different perspectives, and within different horizons.