The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)’s World Philosophy Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 3rd Thursday of November to promote the international culture of philosophical debate that respects human dignity and diversity and celebrates the importance of philosophical reflection and provides an opportunity for the people across the globe to share their philosophical heritage.
The 2020 World Philosophy Day falls on 19th November 2020.
The theme of World Philosophy Day 2020 is “The importance of philosophy in times of crisis”.
Note:
World Philosophy Day 2019 was observed on 21 November 2019.
World Philosophy Day 2021 will be observed on 18 November 2021.
Background:
i.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) introduced the World Philosophy Day in 2002.
ii.The UNESCO General Assembly proclaimed that every 3rd Thursday of November as the World Philosophy Day in 2005.
Objectives of UNESCO:
- To renew the commitment to philosophy.
- To support philosophical analysis, research and studies on major contemporary issues and to effectively respond to the challenges of humanity.
- To raise public awareness of the importance of philosophy and its use in the choices arising from the effects of globalization.
- To appraise the state of philosophy teaching throughout the world, with special emphasis on unequal access.
- To highlight the importance of the universalization of philosophy teaching for future generations.
Events of 2020:
i.As a part of the World Philosophy Day 2020 celebration, UNESCO organised four online high-level roundtables on 19th and 20th November 2020.
- Round table discussion on “Being together in the face of the pandemic” and “The languages of the pandemic” were conducted on 19th November 2020 and round table on “Health as a philosophical issue” and “Fear, confidence, risk”were conducted on 20th November 2020.
- A Master class against Racism and Discriminations was organised by UNESCO on 19th November 2020 and young students were invited to participate and question the prejudices and social stereotypes that causes racism and discrimination.
ii.UNESCO Network of Women Philosophers of Latin America organised a cycle of webinars on “Philosophies in times of crisis: contingency, world and humanity” on 18th and 19th November 2020.
iii.As a part of the 2020 World Philosophy day, the 19th International Encounters on New Philosophical Practices (NPP) under the theme “The time to think; the time of thought” was conducted over a virtual platform on 19th and 20th November 2020.
About UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization):
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
