UNESCO - What?! ANOTHER U.N. invented "holiday"? - introduced World Philosophy Day in 2002 to honor philosophical reflections throughout the world by "opening spaces and encouraging people to share their philosophical heritage, opening their minds to new ideas, and inspire public debate on society’s challenges."
UNESCO’s Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura, said that philosophy gave the conceptual grounding to the principles and values that shaped the possibility of world peace – democracy, human rights, justice and equality. Really?! Reflection on contemporary society’s unsolved problems and unanswered questions was always at the heart of philosophical analysis and thinking. Reflection on problems is at the heart of philosophy? I was under the mistaken notion that the pursuit of TRUTH was at its heart. That's the unenlightened Christian coming out in me, I suppose.
I think the Frenchman, Voltaire, struck pretty close to the truth when he described philosophy this way: When he who hears does not know what he who speaks means, and when he who speaks does not know what he himself means, that is philosophy.
If you are inclined to exercise your mind with some serious philosophical reflections that will be worth your time, but not so serious that they will bog you down and make your brain hurt, I suggest taking up some Augustine, Pascal, Chesterton, Lewis, or Leithart.
Happy Philosophy Day, ya'll!
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