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WORLD PHILOSOPHY DAY 2011 THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2011 UNESCO HEADQUARTERS (7, PLACE DE FONTENOY, PARIS 7e)
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/human- rights/philosophy/philosophy-day-at-unesco/philosophy-day-2011/
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
OFFICIAL OPENING Salle des pas perdus, 9.30 a.m.
International Panel ‘Philosophy and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits of Science’ Organizer: Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO Room IV, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. In terms of knowledge sharing, our ‘knowledge society’ seems to be characterized by some kind of democratization of knowledge, made possible by globalization, free circulation of ideas and development of new technologies. In terms of benefit sharing in the field of science, the current ethical perspective is that those who contribute to science ought to share in its benefits; otherwise, the advancement of science can be considered exploitative. In terms of rights, the ‘right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits’ found its place already in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and guaranteed a place in the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). In 2005, the right to share the benefits of scientific progress was firmly placed within the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. However, from a pragmatic perspective, one may ask: Would the holders of scientific knowledge, hence of the power that derives from it, be willing to share the whole or part of it with the rest of humankind? What is the equation between peace, justice, science and power? This opens a whole range of philosophical, ethical and legal questions, requiring us to revisit the concepts of ‘knowledge sharing’ and of ‘benefit sharing’. Moreover, how can the existing international normative framework of human rights help to address the sensitive issue of equitable sharing as a condition of peace and social justice? The panel will be organized around two thematic sessions: Session 1 will aim at analyzing and defining the concepts of ‘equitable sharing’ and ‘benefits of sciences’, as well as their articulation with the spirit of justice, from a philosophical, ethical, juridical and also political perspective.
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Session 2 will examine the normative texts and instruments that aim at achieving the sharing of benefits of science, and analyze the challenges for their application, including in such fields as the handling of human genetic resources and the access to medicine.
Third Assembly of the International Network of Women Philosophers under the auspices of UNESCO Organizers: International Network of Women Philosophers and the Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO Room IX, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Third Assembly of the International Network of Women Philosophers will provide the opportunity to launch the first issue of the online Women Philosophers’ Journal on the theme ‘Squaring the Circle’. A conference will also be held during the Assembly on the theme ‘What women philosophers think of the (new) Arab world. What women philosophers of the (new) Arab world think’. The authors who contributed to this first issue of the Journal will discuss how they push boundaries in the practice of philosophy. During the thematic conference, women philosophers from various parts of the world will consider recent events in the Arab world and will examine in a unique way the role that women intellectuals and philosophers have played, play and should play.
Round Table on ‘Sergio Vieira de Mello: A Philosopher’s Fight to Change the World’ Organizers: Permanent Delegation of the USA to UNESCO, Permanent Delegation of Brazil to UNESCO and the Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO Room I, 5 p.m. – 6.30 p.m. On the occasion of the premiere screening in France of the HBO documentary film Sergio, a round table will be organized on the theme: ‘Sergio Vieira de Mello: A Philosopher’s Fight to Change the World’. The discussion will focus on Sergio’s contribution as a humanitarian worker, a human rights activist, and on the manner in which philosophy grounded his everyday work in the field. It will also explore the ways in which thinkers can contribute to changing the world, the importance of engaged philosophers who are committed to putting into practice what they theorize, and how philosophy can inspire, anchor and enrich the kind of critical analysis and vision that is necessary in addressing issues in human rights, humanitarian work and peace-building. The round table will highlight Sergio’s legacy and share his story with the public, based on accounts and interventions of scholars, activists and humanitarian workers who knew Sergio and were deeply inspired by him. The aim is to shed light on this committed thinker – how he lived and what he sacrificed – and to inspire students, scholars, human rights activists, United Nations workers and diplomats. It is also to demonstrate that philosophy is not a stagnant discipline, but is crucial to action and praxis.
Screening of the Documentary Film ‘Sergio’ Organizers: Permanent Delegation of the USA to UNESCO, Permanent Delegation of Brazil to UNESCO and the Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO Room I, 6.30 p.m. – 8 p.m. The acclaimed HBO documentary film by Greg Barker recounts the life of Sergio Vieira de Mello (1948- 2003), who died in a bomb attack in Baghdad while serving as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq. The film is based on the book Chasing the Flame: One Man’s Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power, adviser to Barack Obama, President of the United States of America.
Thematic events organized by partners
11th Meeting on New Philosophical Practices - Philosophical Practices and Development of Critical Thinking Partner: Association PHILOLAB Coordinator: Michel Tozzi Rooms II, XI, XII, VII and VIII, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (on 16 and 17 November)
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This 11th Meeting will focus on the subject of developing critical thinking through the various philosophical practices in formal and non-formal education. What methods are available today? Is there a special link between philosophy education and training in critical thinking? A series of workshops and conferences will be held throughout the day, bringing together experts, teachers, researchers, practitioners, students and so on. The Meetings on New Philosophical Practices give an opportunity for everyone interested in the practice of philosophy to meet and exchange views. The goal is to make philosophy accessible to the largest number of people in a wide range of places, including primary and secondary schools, hospitals, prisons, cafés, ‘adult education centres’, companies, theatres, multimedia libraries and so forth. Room III, 9 a.m. - 10.15 a.m., 10.15 a.m. – 11.30 a.m., 11.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m., 2 p.m. -3.15 p.m., 3.15 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. Five philosophy workshops with children will also take place on this occasion, illustrating the different approaches to philosophizing with children.
Philosophy in the Public Space Partner: Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences Coordinator: Marietta Stepanyants Room VI, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The objective of the round table is to discuss the role of philosophy in the public space, notably by addressing the following questions: What does society expect from philosophy as a discipline today? What do, in turn, philosophy and philosophers expect from society? What can philosophy say of and communicate to our contemporary societies? These questions will be addressed, inter alia, through a discussion on the role of World Philosophy Day, proclaimed and celebrated by UNESCO since 2002, to promote philosophical knowledge and dialogue. In this framework, speakers will in particular present the experience of the annual celebration of the Day in 2008 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, which focused on the interaction between philosophy and the dialogue of cultures.
Relevance of Mohammed Arkoun’s Thought Partner: University Sophia-Antipolis of Nice Coordinator: Abdennour Bidar Room VI, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. On the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Mohammed Arkoun, a symposium will be held in memory of this remarkable thinker and of his work as a historian and philosopher. Mohammed Arkoun, an avant-garde Arab intellectual who promoted dialogue among peoples and among the human sciences, embodies the paradigm of reflection for peace among current generations of philosophers and historians. His many works will be analysed, read and discussed during the symposium, bringing together researchers, students and experts well-versed in the thinking of Mohammed Arkoun.
Equal Opportunities at School: What Kind of Equality? What Kind of Opportunities? Knowledge Sharing in Question Partners: Collège international de philosophie (CIPh) and Association PHILOLAB Coordinator: Pascal Severac Room II, 9.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. (on 18 November) This education symposium will review the benefits of teaching philosophy to children with a view to social inclusion and knowledge-sharing. Since schools have traditionally been considered as melting pots of peoples, venues for the transmission and sharing of knowledge, and factors in upward social mobility, how can philosophy education contribute to this? The speakers – education experts and educators – will examine how philosophy education can meet the need for social inclusion, which requires education to provide all individuals with equal opportunities in fulfilling their cognitive potential and developing their personality. Moreover, when transposed to the broader geopolitical context of North-South relations, the issue of equal opportunities at school raises the issue of equitable sharing of the benefits of science among countries. How can the results of philosophy education research be shared equitably?
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Side events
Cafés philo Partners: Association PHILOLAB; Association ‘Rencontres et Débats Autrement’; Permanent Delegation of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Salle des pas perdus, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., and 2.15 p.m. – 4 p.m. Café philo 1: The morning café philo will focus on the question ‘Do we need citizen-philosophers?’, moderated by Gunter Gorhan, who will instigate discussion based on the simultaneous birth of democracy and philosophy in Ancient Greece, the ‘philosopher king’ of Plato’s Republic, the social and political ‘production’ of the subject in democracy (Castoriadis), and Marcel Gauchet’s necessary anthropological mutation. Café philo 2: A second café philo will focus on the theme ‘Political movements for change: What ethics?’, to be moderated by H.E. Dr Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Delegate of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, together with Msgr. Francesco Follo, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to UNESCO, will address the complex synthesis of idealism and realism in political actions. Café philo 3: The third, afternoon café philo will discuss the theme ‘Philosophy and theatre: What is their role in a time of crisis?’. It will be moderated by the actress Guila Clara Kessous and the philosopher Yves Cusset, who will combine philosophical debate and the performing arts illustrated by extracts from their shows. Philosophy bookfair Partners: Averroès Bookstore; Bookstore of the Arab World; Collège international de philosophie (CIPh); Editions de l’Herne; Hatier Editions; J. Vrin Philosophy Bookstore; Latin American Bookfair; L’Harmattan Editions; Les Petits Platons; Paul Geuthner Orientalist Bookstore; Plume vagabonde; Présence africaine; PUF Editions; Sépia Editions; UNESCO Publishing Foyer to Room I, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. As is the case every year, during the Day many publishing companies and bookshops will hold at UNESCO an exhibition and sale of books on philosophy and the social and human sciences in general. A stall will also be devoted to UNESCO Publishing and to philosophy and social and human science publications produced by the Social and Human Sciences Sector.
Prize-giving ceremony to the laureate of the 2010-2011 Concours philo of the French Federation of UNESCO Clubs (FFCU) and launch of its 2011-2012 edition Salle des pas perdus, 2 p.m. Partners: French Federation of UNESCO Clubs (FFCU) Since 2006 the FFCU organizes a philosophy competition open to youth from UNESCO clubs and to high-school students. World Philosophy Day 2011 will be the occasion to award the prize to the winner of the 2010-2011 edition of the competition as well as to launch its 2011-2012 edition.
Exhibitions ‘Open UNESCO’ exhibition – Ségur Hall Exhibition of mobiles by Paul Sikora – Salle des pas perdus – 4 p.m.: Presentation by the Artist
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