World Philosophy Day

It was around 470 BC when Socrates was born in Athens, Greece. According to Xenophon, Socrates was far more interested in intellectual upbringing of young minds of Athens rather than looking after the upbringing of his own sons. Aristotle is regarded by many as the most intelligent man to ever walk on this planet. This genius was born in 384 BCE in Stageira, Chalcide in ancient Macedonia which is now northern Greece. Lao-Tzu (570-490 BC) - There is some doubt whether this person really existed as such. The name means ’Old One’. The story goes that after retiring from the civil service he retired to a resort in the mountains. Trouble is, the mountains named are mythical. Confucius (551-479 BC) - His name is associated with the Five Classics of Ancient Chinese literature, but it is not known whether he was the author, editor, or merely the compiler of those works.

World Philosophy Day was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO to honour philosophical reflection in the entire world by opening up free and accessible spaces. Its objective is to encourage the peoples of the world to share their philosophical heritage and to open their minds to new ideas, as well as to inspire a public debate between intellectuals and civil society on the challenges confronting our society.

In 2005 the UNESCO General Conference (33rd session, Paris) proclaimed document that World Philosophy Day would be celebrated every third Thursday of November.

UNESCO leads World Philosophy Day – but does not own it. It belongs to everyone, everywhere, who cares about philosophy.

All activities celebrating that year’s World Philosophy Day , for the first time, emphasized the use of new communication technologies to engage global audiences.

BACKGROUND: In a letter dated 19 May 2004, Mr Mohamed Achaari, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Morocco, submitted to the Director-General for consideration a proposal to establish a World Philosophy Day, at the end of the deliberations of the third session of the Rencontres du Printemps de la Philosophie, organized by the Association des Amis de la Philosophie and held in the city of Fez, Morocco, on 9 and 10 March 2004. At a meeting on 13 January 2005 organized by the Social and Human Sciences Sector and bringing together the Sector, representatives of Permanent Delegations to UNESCO and other sectors of the Organization as part of the consultation process on the intersectoral strategy on philosophy, Ms Aziza Bennani, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO, put forward the idea of a draft resolution. In a letter dated 7 February 2005, Ms Bennani transmitted to Mr Hans-Heinrich Wrede, Chairman of the Executive Board, the proposal by the Kingdom of Morocco to establish a world philosophy day. The proposal invited the Director-General to conduct a feasibility study – including an estimate of the costs and an indication of the expected results – on the celebration of a World Philosophy Day.

Source: un.org | unesco.org

In 2024 World Philosophy Day in USA falls on November 21.