Prize Essay Competition by the Foundation for Philosophical Orientation

“Is the Left-Right Distinction Still Useful for Political Orientation?”

The left-right-distinction is one of the most elementary distinctions of orientation. It entered philosophy in the 1780s through works of Moses Mendelssohn and Immanuel Kant; a few years later, it also appeared in politics during the French Revolution. Since then, the distinction between political left and right has shaped ideological landscapes worldwide. Initially, those seated to the left of the French National Assembly advocated for popular sovereignty, equality, and radical change, while those to the right defended monarchy and traditional hierarchies. Over time, this geographical distinction evolved to signify broader ideological divisions—between progressivism and conservatism, collectivism and individualism, revolution and order. Thinkers from Edmund Burke to Karl Marx, and later from Hannah Arendt to Jacques Rancière, have debated the nature, limits, and transformations of this distinction. Yet, as contemporary political realities shift, the relevance of this binary framework is increasingly contested, with globalization, digitalization, and cultural realignments blurring traditional ideological boundaries.

In our third philosophical prize competition, the Foundation for Philosophical Orientation therefore asks: Is the left-right distinction still useful for political orientation? Is it still politically meaningful after historical transformations such as industrialization, neoliberalism, and the rise of digital technologies? How do different cultural, regional, and historical contexts shape its applicability? How do alternative frameworks – such as authoritarian vs. libertarian, globalist vs. localist, nationalist vs. cosmopolitan, capitalist vs. socialist – blur, intersect, or transcend the traditional political orientation of left and right?

In this prize competition, we expect new contributions (i.e., not yet published in any form) from insightful points of view and with compelling philosophical perspectives. It is not about making political statements. We recommend that authors send approx. 20–30 pages of thorough and comprehensive philosophical research that clearly shows connections to the concepts of the philosophy of orientation, as developed in Werner Stegmaier’s What is Orientation? A Philosophical Investigation. Critical approaches are welcome too.

The best contributions will be invited to a virtual debate with our board and advisory council in order to determine the winners, and the most outstanding essays will be offered publication.

The Foundation for Philosophical Orientation provides the following prize awards:

1st prize award: $10,000

2nd prize award: $7,500

3rd prize award: $5,000

Student award: $2,500 (if no student is among the top 3)

Please submit your contributions by January 31, 2026 (midnight US Central Time) to prize@hfpo.com