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
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...
"How Does the Digitization of Our World Change Our Orientation?" – this was the question of our first prize competition that took place in the years of 2019-2021. We...
In search for a climate and weather most therapeutic for his poor health, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) discovered his favorite place for working in the Swiss region...
This year, we are starting our HFPO Research Colloquium. It is designed to provide a collaborative space for researchers with any disciplinary background to present and...
Announcing our new virtual seminar: "Orientation/Disorientation in Ancient Greek Philosophy and Literature," taught by Dr. Olga Faccani and Dr. Enrico Mueller. Many...
"Human life certainly leaves room for its shaping, but hardly for modeling it like a free-standing statue. The model of fine arts must not obscure how narrow the leeway...
Today, on the day of our foundation's third anniversary, we are excited to launch a new prize competition! The prize question for the years 2022-23 is: How to...
We are expanding our seminar offerings! Over the coming months, we are offering new seminars. All these seminars are free of charge and most are virtual, so you can...
In this second video podcast between Olga Faccani and Reinhard G. Mueller, the two explore the various facets of the mysterious god Dionysus, including his depiction in...
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.