| World Philosophy Day | |
|---|---|
| Type | Secular |
| Date | Third Thursday in November |
| 2025 date | November 20 (2025-11-20) |
| 2026 date | November 19 (2026-11-19) |
| 2027 date | November 18 (2027-11-18) |
| 2028 date | November 16 (2028-11-16) |
| Frequency | annual |
World Philosophy Day is aninternational day proclaimed byUNESCO to be celebrated every 3rd Thursday of November. It was first celebrated on 21 November 2002.
By celebrating World Philosophy Day each year, on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO underlines the enduring value ofphilosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual. UNESCO has always been closely linked to philosophy, not speculative or normative philosophy, butcritical questioning which enables it to givemeaning to life and action in the international context.
In establishing World Philosophy Day in 2002, UNESCO’s General Conference highlighted the importance of this discipline, especially for young people, underlining that "philosophy is a discipline that encouragescritical and independent thought and is capable of working towards a better understanding of the world and promotingtolerance andpeace". UNESCO's General Conference was convinced that "theinstitutionalisation of Philosophy Day at UNESCO as 'World Philosophy Day' would win recognition for and give strongimpetus to philosophy and, in particular, to theteaching of philosophy in the world".