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World Philosophy Day
Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom and truth. It allows you to think clearly and sharpens your knowledge domains. It creates new opportunities for making the world a better place. Every year on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO organizes World Philosophy Day to commemorate this contribution.
Happy World Philosophy Day Image source: istockphoto

Observed Every Year

What exactly is philosophy? Philosophy, also known as "love for wisdom," does not have a single definition. However, the Bollywood song "Socha hai '' from the film "Rock On" perfectly summarises it. The lines of the song go like this: "Asmaan hai neela kyun, paani geela geela kyun." Gol Kyun hai zameen? Silk mein hai narmeen kyun, aag mein hai garmi kyun "Do aur do paanch kyun nahin?" The lyrics make us think, and that is what philosophy is about!

Philosophy is thinking, thinking without creating or imposing limits. It is the courage and curiosity to ask difficult questions, as well as the patience to wait for the answers. Philosophical pondering allows us to contemplate the most fundamental questions about life while also assisting us in discovering the meaning of life.

Philosophy is concerned with questions such as, "Who are we?" What exactly are we? What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? and so forth. Relax; its goal is not to push humans to the brink of an existential crisis. On the contrary, it aids in the development of the ability to engage in such questions and emerge from them. Socrates, a famous Greek philosopher, once said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." Philosophy as a discipline contributes immensely to leading an examined life. It also helps us develop self-awareness and makes us capable of self-examination. Not only that, but philosophy helps us evolve as humans by constantly challenging our preconceived notions and beliefs.

For the same reason and to commemorate philosophy's exceptional role and significant influence, the United Nations Economic, Social, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) observes World Philosophy Day. The day commemorates philosophy's contribution to the creation of a more tolerant world in which all cultures are valued equally. Philosophical inquiry broadens intellectual horizons and promotes healthy, harmonious intercultural dialogue.

To encourage philosophical discourse as part of larger public discussions, UNESCO and its partners host philosophical dialogues, workshops, conferences, debates, and cultural events with philosophers and scientists from around the world.

According to the official website of UNESCO, "UNESCO leads but does not own World Philosophy Day." It belongs to everyone who is interested in philosophy. "

Furthermore, Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO, quotes that "Words sometimes fail to grasp the complexity of the world and its upheavals. To paraphrase the great philosopher Ibn Khaldun, 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.

Philosophy connects all disciplines, acting as a bridge for students to cross from one to the other. It is possibly one of the earliest subjects that evolved into various fields. Philosophy is a journey from introspection to self-discovery. It polishes and refines human thinking abilities, resulting in a more respectful society. On this World Philosophy Day, let us reflect on the subject's unparalleled contribution and potential in the world.

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Simran Agrawal Author
A responsibly weird and kind introvert, who derives sense of joy from little things. I try to make sense of the world through my writing. And yes I genuinely believe in the words of Margaret Atwood when she said "In the end, we'll all become stories".

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