The Hodges 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 Hodges Foundation for Philosophical Orientation (HFPO) 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 HFPO 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 HFPO 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 – 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
Another new seminar will run from 10/13/23-12/15/23! Today we assume that change in all areas of life, including its most basic conditions, will continue to...
Announcing a new seminar, to run October 18-December 20! In our everyday and professional lives, people have different orientation abilities. The question of leadership...
A new book is out on Orientations Press! Nietzsche and the Art of Living is free to download on the Orientations Press web page! The philosophy of the art of living...
We are organizing a seminar at the annual meeting of the American Comparative Literature Association that will meet in Montreal on March 14-17, 2024. This is the...
Members of the Hodges Foundation for Philosophical Orientation traveled to Europe to attend two conferences this past July, one in Sarzana, Italy, and one in...
After receiving 34 high-quality applications for our Hodges doctoral dissertation fellowship, the HFPO engaged in a careful two-stage selection process, first by...
Organized by Dr. Reinhard G. Mueller and Dr. Dr. Timon Boehm Weekly meetings will take place on Tuesdays 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (US Central Time) beginning on June 13, 2023....
Organized by Prof. Hans-Georg Moeller and Prof. Paul D'Ambrosio Weekly meetings will take place on Wednesdays 08:00 – 10:00 a.m. (US Central Time) beginning on May 24,...
A new virtual seminar will begin in April, taught by Dr. Lucy Osler and Dr. Christoph Durt on the topic of "Artificial Intelligence and Human Orientation." This seminar...
Activities and Projects
Philosophical orientation cannot and should not only be studied, but it must also prove itself in practice. Therefore, the HFPO 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 Dissertation Fellowships
Philosophical Prize Competition
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.