### _Compos(t)ing orientation_ In the famous text "[What Does It Mean to Orient Oneself in Thinking?](https://assets.cambridge.org/97811071/49595/excerpt/9781107149595_excerpt.pdf "What Does It Mean to Orient Oneself in Thinking?")" (1793) Kant muses on many things, but particularly for our interests: he suggests that, if you _really_ think about it: thought comes down to the fact that we are 3D beings with the capacity to sense our orientation: _left_ and _right_. While I am not a hardcore ‘Kantian,’ I think his proposal is an interesting starting point for our brief workshop: when starting a period of research, **where** to begin our orientation(s)? **How**? **With** **what**? Where to **go**? _And_: how do you know where you've been after the x$^n$ **steps** you’ve taken? We will start at the beginning: with a **point**. This point will then worm itself left, right, up, down, and _beyond_. To refer to another famous philosopher: “it matters what compostables make compost” (Haraway paraphrasing Strathern paraphrased in [Hamilton and Neimanis, 2018](https://www.environmentandsociety.org/sites/default/files/key_docs/501hamilton.pdf "Hamilton and Neimanis, 2018")). We’ll work on knowledge as compost(able) material: sometimes our input is disoriented garbage, sure, but this garbage is full of potential. **Importantly**: nothing is wasted, and everything should be added in the loving interest of facilitating a sustainable compos(t)ition. ### _To-do list_ / prep: For this, it would be great if you to come prepared to class with the following things: - **The point:** what is your (recent and/or lifetime) concept/interest/field of focus? This could be anything: from niche cookbooks to chess-boxing to topological algebra to green nail-polish shades to the history and social impact of _crocs_. Whatever drives your current or, as mentioned, lifetime research interests. - **Download**, install and investigate the free markdown software [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/ "Obsidian"). Please note there are alternatives, too, such as [Notion](https://www.notion.so/ "Notion") (which is sometimes better because you can collaborate w/ others, while Obsidian is best suited for 1-user only). Please familiarize yourself with the software by exploring it and doing some online research (the tutorials on the website are a great place to start). - **Bring** your (**charged**!) laptop (or tablet or whatever device you install the software on -- phone works, too, if you don't have a laptop, but it's way more finicky to type on, of course). Paper is, of course, more than welcome, too. However, mind you, I have been asked to teach you _digital methods._ We will develop a small dynamic knowledge archive that you will continue to grow, if you wish, with Obsidian or your comparable software of choice.