The very first thing one does in all situations of life is orient oneself. Decisions of orientation, which are mostly made under uncertainty and the pressure of time, largely determine subsequent decisions. But what is orientation? The problems of orientation are as old as humankind, the word is used everywhere, but the concept has never been thoroughly investigated. The philosopher Werner Stegmaier comprehensively clarifies for the first time the conditions and structures of orientation, including those of our sexual, economic, media, political, legal, scientific, artistic, religious, moral, and ethical orientations. He thereby establishes a new philosophical language and offers a philosophy for our time.

"As if I unexpectedly slipped down into a deep vortex, I am swirled around in a way that I can neither put a foot down, nor swim to the surface. Nonetheless, I will work my way out ... " (René Descartes, Philosopher)

"As often as my speculation seems to lead me too far from the paved road of common sense, I stand still and seek to orient myself. I look back at the point from which we started, and I seek to compare the two guideposts I have." (Moses Mendelssohn, Philosopher)

"A philosophical problem has the form: 'I do not know my way about.'" (Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosopher)

"The second O, orientation - as the repository of our genetic heritage, cultural tradition, and previous experiences - is the most important part of the O-O-D-A loop since it shapes the way we observe, the way we decide, the way we act." (John Boyd, Military Strategist)

Auteur

Werner Stegmaier, Emeritus Professor for Philosophy at the University of Greifswald, Germany.

Texte du rabat

The 'orientation' term is mostly used to define other terms, but what it itself means has not been clarified. Therefore, this book offers a foundational orientation about orientation. Orientation is the act and accomplishment to find one's way in always new situations to make out promising opportunities for action in order to master the situation. Usually without notice, orientation selects in advance what 'to make' of something and thus what, at all, 'comes into play' and is 'going on.' This philosophical investigation clarifies how orientation proceeds under the conditions of uncertainty and time pressure and how it operates, e.g. via perspectives, clues, signs, leeways, and routines. They allow orientation to keep up with the time and to deal with the paradoxes it creates. In doing so, basic philosophical concepts like thinking, thing, and identity are redefined. The second half of the book expounds the differentiations of orientation in interaction and communication from body language to the setting of ethical signs. Traditional metaphysics - still in effect today - then becomes visible as a specific orientation that disregards the conditions of orientation and that thereby runs the risk that orientation is reduced - and fails.