The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared that World Philosophy Day should be celebrated on the third Thursday of November, or 17 November this year. The Thammasat University Library collection includes many books about different aspects of philosophy. TU students may know that the word philosophy derives from ancient Greek terms meaning the love of wisdom.

In modern times, philosophy usually refers to questions about life, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. What do philosophers do? They ask questions, talk about things, discuss and even argue sometimes, and present their findings in an organized way.

Among subjects that were once considered part of philosophy but are now independent fields of study are psychology, sociology, linguistics, and economics.

According to the United Nations (UN) website, World Philosophy Day was introduced by UNESCO with the objective to:

• renew the national, subregional, regional and international commitment to philosophy;
• foster philosophical analysis, research and studies on major contemporary issues, so as to respond more effectively to the challenges that are confronting humanity today;
• raise public awareness of the importance of philosophy and its critical use in the choices arising for many societies from the effects of globalization or entry into modernity;
• appraise the state of philosophy teaching throughout the world, with special emphasis on unequal access;
• underline the importance of the universalization of philosophy teaching for future generations.

This year, the UN website notes, the theme will be The Human of the Future, adding: Philosophy is an inspiring discipline as well as an everyday practice that can transform societies. By enabling to discover the diversity of the intellectual currents in the world, philosophy stimulates intercultural dialogue. By awakening minds to the exercise of thinking and the reasoned confrontation of opinions, philosophy helps to build a more tolerant, more respectful society. It thus helps to understand and respond to major contemporary challenges by creating the intellectual conditions for change… Words sometimes fail to grasp the complexity of the world and its upheavals. To paraphrase the great philosopher Ibn Khaldūn, without the transmission of thought, language is only a barren land. As an antidote, UNESCO works daily to bring philosophy, that universal language of thought, into service in order to identify all the ramifications of the crisis and to clear a common path for humanity.

UNESCO promotes a World Philosophy Day to encourage

an international culture of philosophical debate that respects human dignity and diversity. The Day encourages academic exchange and highlights the contribution of philosophical knowledge in addressing global issues… 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. World Philosophy Day celebrates the importance of philosophical reflection, and encourages 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.

In a public declaration from 2008, UNESCO observed:

There can be no UNESCO  without  philosophy,  because  its  action  has  always  aimed  at putting  the  power  of  ideas  at  the  service  of  social transformations. Today more than ever, UNESCO keeps steadfast in that philosophical optimism that truly   constitutes  its  very  foundations. How can we today, then, continue to translate this             humanistic conviction into action? … All UNESCO’s  major programmes are built on     philosophical foundations and the search for meaning has to be constant.

—Philosophy   at   UNESCO?   I   am   not   sure   I   really   understand…

—It   is   strange,   you   say,   that   UNESCO   deals   with   philosophy?  But  who  else  would  remind  you  that  each  of  your  acts,  dear  friend,  is  based  on  a  certain  vision  that guides you?

That is precisely what philosophy is all about:   the   world   changes;   and   UNESCO   fosters,   through dialogue, a questioning of our own acts… The    popularization    of    philosophical thought and research among the general public is essential in developing a democratic and peaceful culture. The  encounter  of each and every one of us  with philosophy reinforces the awareness that we all are part of the same humanity,  moved  by  the  same  desire  for  peace,  and aiming at the  same fulfilment of our existence. It is for this   reason   that   every   year UNESCO celebrates World Philosophy  Day, which  brings together men and women, students, professors, and researchers to share    their  modes  of  thinking,  or  discover  new  forms  of reasoning.

Part of this effort is an International Network of Women Philosophers to advance international exchange and the create communities of practice.

There is also an International Association of Women Philosophers not affiliated with the UN. The International Association of Women Philosophers is a professional association and network that provides a forum for discussion, interaction and cooperation among women engaged in teaching and research in all aspects of philosophy, with a particular emphasis on feminist philosophy. It was founded in 1976 in Würzburg, Germany.

At the First Assembly of the International Network of Women Philosophers, sponsored by UNESCO, among the subjects discussed were what it means to be a woman philosopher; when can the theoretical and practical work of women thinkers and activists be called philosophical; how women philosophers deal in theory and practice with obstacles in their professional paths; how women manage their freedom; whether philosophy be used as an instrument by women to consolidate their freedom; the relationship between philosophical dialogue and translation; gender and racism; definitions of excellence in academic work; and how the work of women philosophers is evaluated.

Philosophy in the Kingdom

All TU students of philosophy will be familiar with the Philosophy and Religion Society of Thailand (PARST).

It publishes the Journal of the Philosophy and Religion Society of Thailand, which has the purpose of creating and developing knowledge of philosophy and religion in Thailand, while promoting and developing international academic achievements among academic personnel in philosophy and religion in the Kingdom. The journal is a forum for academic discussion in philosophy and religion and spreading knowledge of philosophy and religion to the public.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)