UNESCO(联合国教科文组织)为加强人们对哲学持久价值的认识,将每年11月的第三个星期四定为世界哲学日,并每年庆祝该日,以促进各文化、个人、及人类思想的发展。
面临当今世界的复杂性,哲学反思,总而言之,是对我们谦逊的呼唤,还是向我们提出退一步而跻身于理性思考的要求,更是促使我们一同解决失控局面的呐喊。哲学思考也因而成为了抵制愚昧与偏见,并启发更多文明公民的最好方法。当下,若是我们遇到的困难越大,那么用哲学解决诸如世界和平和可持续发展的需求也就更强烈。
2005年,在创建世界哲学日时,UNESCO大会强调了哲学学科的重要意义(尤其是对年轻人而言),并指出“哲学是一门能激人培养思辨及独立思考能力的学科,也是有利于我们加深对世界认识、促进世界稳定与和平的学科”
UNESCO总会一致认为“世界哲学日的体制化是对哲学学科的高度认可,并为其发展提供了更充足的动力,特别是对于当今的哲学教学而言”
虽然UNESCO领导建立了世界哲学日,可它不是归属于UNESCO的,而是属于世界各地每一个关心哲学的人。
当今,在这个面临着重大挑战的时代,当我们一同在这些挑战上实践着自由,理性,灵通的思想时,我们鼓励所有的UNESCO合作组织(国家政府、其相关的公共部门组织、UNESCO国家委员会、政府组织、哲学协会、大学、学术机构、普通学府、UNESCO相关大学及相关的俱乐部),在哲学日这一天里,积极开展围绕一般哲学主题的各种活动,包括哲学对话、辩论、会议、哲学讲习班、文化活动和报告,而参与者包括来自各自然和社会科学领域的哲学家、科学家、教育学者、老师、同学、媒体记者、其他大众媒体代表及大众。
哲学日就是致力于哲学思辨的一天,在这一天里,每个人都可以据自己的信念参与自由言论;在这一天里,许多地点将成为我们哲学思考的空间单元。因为我们的共同目标不止是要激发更多单一领域的论证与辩驳,还在于每年,能让受邀的每一个你发现这世上其他领域的新言论。
最后,哲学日更是行动和共同行动的统一,它将再一次肯定哲学的真正价值,也就是,为重要话题所发起的永不停止的哲学对话,同样,永远也不要停止能给人类带来极大尊严的思考。
——Moufida Goucha
文章链接://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-philosophy-day-2014/
(翻译:2013级哲学班 黄子阳)
Philosophy Day at UNESCO
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.
"Faced with the complexity of today’s world, philosophical reflection is above all a call to humility, to take a step back and engage in reasoned dialogue, to build together the solutions to challenges that are beyond our control. This is the best way to educate enlightened citizens, equipped to fight stupidity and prejudice. The greater the difficulties encountered the greater the need for philosophy to make sense of questions of peace and sustainable development."
Irina Bokova
UNESCO Director-General
In establishing World Philosophy Day in 2005, the 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 ”.
UNESCO's General Conference was convinced that “the institutionalization of Philosophy Day at UNESCO as world philosophy day would win recognition for and give strong impetus to philosophy and, in particular, to the teaching of philosophy in the world”.
UNESCO leads World Philosophy Day – but does not own it. It belongs to everyone, everywhere, who cares about philosophy.
On this Day of collective exercise in free, reasoned and informed thinking on the major challenges of our time, all of UNESCO’s partners (national governments, their public institutions and organizations, including National Commissions for UNESCO, relevant non-governmental organizations, associations, universities, institutes, schools, UNESCO/UNITWIN Chairs, Associated Schools and Clubs and so forth) are encouraged to organize various types of activities - philosophical dialogues, debates, conferences, workshops, cultural events and presentations around the general theme of the Day, with the participation of philosophers and scientists from all branches of natural and social sciences, educators, teachers, students, press journalists and other mass media representatives, and the general public.
"One day, that is the unit of time devoted to debates in which each and every person should feel free to participate according to his or her convictions.
Many places, that is our unit of space, because our common goal is also to enhance arguments and counterarguments not only in one agora but in all the parts of this big house that we invite you to come and discover every year.
Finally, a unity of action, of common action, to reaffirm the true value of philosophy, that is to say the establishment of dialogue that must never cease when it comes to essential matters, and of thought which gives us back a large part of human dignity whatever our condition."
Moufida Goucha,
Former Chief of the Human Security, Democracy, and Philosophical Section
Address during the first World Philosophy Day at UNESCO in 2002
