UNESCO's World Philosophy Day

UNESCO supports the teaching of philosophy for children and has described the inclusion of philosophy in education as ‘a significant contribution to quality education’.

Our events are only made possible by volunteer philosophers, and support from individual donations, funders and organisations willing to help us, to all of them: thank you.

World Philosophy Day was established by UNESCO in 2008 as a way to support and promote the teaching of philosophy to children. It is held on the third Thursday of November every year. You can see films and read about The Philosophy Foundation’s celebrations below.

World Philosophy Day 2022

Thursday 17th November 2022

The Art of Happiness with Epicurus and friends

Is pleasure important to you? Do you want more of it? Do you dislike pain and suffering? If so, then join us to improve how you approach pleasure and pain in your life according to the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (and maybe one or two others) who had some useful things to say about our relationship to pleasure and pain.

We're running 3 online enquiries during the day where you'll consider:

How to die (and live) better 08:30am (GMT) – Do you want to start living? If so, Epicurus thought that you need to deal with fear of death. Well, he had ways of doing so. Come and join us to find out how, so that you can stop worrying and start living the Epicurean way!

How to shop better 13:30pm (GMT) – Do you want more luxury but without the guilt and cost? Do you want to live like a king without having to pay like a king? No, this is not a burglary course! This is how to get more for less and never run out of it. To find out how to want for nothing (not want nothing!), come and join us at the Ancient Greek Agora (shopping mall!) for some shopping and spending tips!

How to eat better 19:30pm (GMT) – Do you want to enjoy food more without putting weight on? You may think this is not possible. Well, with Epicurus, think again! He has the magic formula (though it’s probably not what you think it is). Join us to find out what it is and how you can achieve the impossible.

World Philosophy Day 2021

Aristotelean Reality (in-real-life)

Life, Love and Liberty: living in a post (?) Covid-19 world

For World Philosophy Day 2021 we ran two free events, one in the Platonic realm of the forms (online) and one in Aristotelean reality (in-real-life) at the Gin Bar Subplot 57 where we used to run Think and Drink back in the good old pre-Covid days.

In both we considered life, love and liberty in light of all that has happened over the last couple of years - and considered ways of dealing with it through philosophical thinking like Stoicism. And gin.

World Philosophy Day 2021

Platonic Realm of the Forms (online)

Life, Love and Liberty: living in a post (?) Covid-19 world: Online

For World Philosophy Day 2021 we ran two free events, one in the Platonic realm of the forms (online) and one in Aristotelean reality (in-real-life) at the Gin Bar Subplot 57.

We considered life, love and liberty in light of all that has happened over the last couple of years - and considered ways of dealing with it through philosophical thinking like Stoicism.

World Philosophy Day 2020

Online

Like everything else in 2020 World Philosophy Day went online. We ran philosophical enquiries on Zoom with all ages, and we ran a Virtual Event in the Echo, with philosophers playing philosophers! We kicked around a football and the public sparked debates between Shakespeare and Plato, Kant and Avicenna, Marys Astell and Wollenstonecraft.

World Philosophy Day 2019

Enriched Curriculum, Enriched Lives, RSA

In November 2019 we worked with The Centre for Engaged Philosophy (Sheffield University) to put on a major event with a rich variety of speakers from academia, to practitioners and public intellectuals on the benefits of philosophy in schools. You can see all the speeches here Full Videos and download the event booklet here Event Booklet.

World Philosophy Day 2018

Symposium at the Now Gallery, Greenwich

In 2018 we partnered with the Now Gallery in Greenwich Penninsula and held an evening of drinks and philosophical provocations - plus a Philosophy Slam! with Mark Vernon and Robert Rowland Smith.

World Philosophy Day 2017

House of St Barnabas

Thanks to our friends at the House of St Barnabas, The Philosophy Foundation was able to host a day of events at the beautiful building in Soho. We invited curious individuals to explore the different themes in each room, considering their answers in conversation with our specialist philosophers, who were resident for the day inside the building.

World Philosophy Day 2016

Questions on the community

A team of bearded philosophers, including children from schools in the neighbourhood of our home at Forest Hill Library hid a series of different philosophical questions in shops, restaurants and other public buildings. Members of the community could then go around the different shops to find the questions and share their answers to win prizes.

World Philosophy Day 2015

Mercers Foundation

We had 150 students visit the Mercer's Foundation in 2015 for World Philosophy Day. The day began with a Philosophical Agora (marketplace) run by students from some of our secondary schools, and then our philosophers ran sessions with the students on Myths and Legends and Philanthropy.

World Philosophy Day 2014

Bus!

Using a London Bus (thanks to Transport for London) to take young people from around the UK on a tour of famous landmarks of London whilst discussing related philosophy along the way.