Tuesday 4 May 2010

UNESCO World Philosophy Day 2010

We are looking for volunteers to get involved with the next UN World Philosophy Day in November 2010. If you are interested please contact Neil Turnbull.

Here's the link for those interested in expolring this further...

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/human-rights/philosophy/

Also, here is what the UN say about the importance of Philosophy and the significance of the World Philosophy Day:

Many thinkers state that “astonishment” is the root of philosophy. Indeed, philosophy stems from humans’ natural tendency to be astonished by themselves and the world in which they live.

This field, which sees itself as a form of “wisdom”, teaches us to reflect on reflection itself, to continually question well-established truths, to verify hypotheses and to find conclusions.

For centuries, in every culture, philosophy has given birth to concepts, ideas and analyses, and, through this, has set down the basis for critical, independent and creative thought.

UNESCO’s Philosophy Day allowed this institution to celebrate, in particular, the importance of philosophical reflection, and to encourage people all over the world to share their philosophical heritage with each other.

For UNESCO, philosophy provides the conceptual bases of principles and values on which world peace depends: democracy, human rights, justice, and equality.

Philosophy helps consolidate these authentic foundations of peaceful coexistence.

Over seventy countries, including twenty-five in Africa, celebrated the first two Philosophy Days which offered everyone, regardless of their culture, the opportunity to think about different questions such as: “Who are we as individuals and as a world community?” It is up to us to reflect upon the state of the world and determine whether it corresponds to our ideals of justice and equality. It is up to us to ask ourselves whether our society is living according to the ethical and moral norms of our great Declarations.

This Philosophy Day thus provided us with the occasion to ask ourselves questions that are often forgotten: “What do we neglect to think about?” “Which intolerable realities do we get used to?”



Mika Shino
Philosopher, UNESCO Programme Specialist
SHS Newsletter 04 - Foresight: the future in the present, January-March 2004

5 comments:

  1. You got some ideas for this Neil?

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  2. Yeah, any idea what Trent might do?

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  3. Some, but probably best to share these with you face to face in a meeting..

    Will send and e-mail around in the next day or so...

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  4. I'm interested in volunteering for the 'world philosophy day' event 11/2010.
    This blog says contact 'Neil Thurnbull' but it doesn't say what his contact info is. How or who do I contact?

    Thanks

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  5. you have olny photos of western philosopher. Why not others?

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