© UNESCO / O. Marie

By celebrating World Philosophy Day each year, on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO underlines the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual. In 2018, World Philosophy Day observed on 15 November.

This year’s World Philosophy Day will be celebrated on 15 November 2018, with special events taking place from 14 to 17 November at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Organized by UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme, World Philosophy Day is a collaborative initiative towards building inclusive societies, tolerance and peace.

This year’s programme falls in line with the 70th anniversary for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 15 November 2018. In this context, events for World Philosophy Day will highlight the need for new philosophy practices in today’s world, encourage dialogue on the connections with human rights and explore new ways to increase accessibility of philosophical teaching and learning.

Key events throughout the 3-day celebration include:
• Conference on New Philosophical Practices, PhiloJeunes (14-15 November)
• Café philosophique (15 November)
• Presentation of the Women Philosophers’ Journal (15 November)
• Special event to present the outcome of the digitization of the sound archives of the Collège international de philosophie (15 November)
• Philosophy and human rights (16 November)
• A Night of Philosophy (16-17 November)

In establishing World Philosophy Day in 2005, UNESCO’s General Conference highlighted the importance of this discipline, especially for young people, underlining that “philosophy is a discipline that encourages critical and independent thought and is capable of working towards a better understanding of the world and promoting tolerance and peace”.

By celebrating World Philosophy Day each year, on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO underlines the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual.

UNESCO leads World Philosophy Day – but does not own it. It belongs to everyone, everywhere, who cares about philosophy. If you would like to have your WPD events mentioned on the UNESCO website, simply send brief details to: d.takorabet@unesco.org.