World Philosophy Day

A really interesting article got featured in the Ottawa Citzen saying that we shouldn't care about World Philosophy Day.  I wrote a reply to the Ottawa Citzen.  I got a call saying I was being considered for the Letter section, but apparently smart meters and some 36 word opinion about helicopters in the area were more important.  Well, either way, I'll post it here, since I worked on it!  =)


Don't Diss World Philosophy Day: It Serves a Purpose




I take issue with Dr. Snedon's article on World Philosophy Day (Nov. 16 'World philosophy day? No thanks'). Somewhat alarmingly, the author thinks that it's ok for professional philosophers to take for granted the one day the world actually recognizes the importance of philosophy in science, education and culture.

Besides the questionable attitude of calling an observance of your own discipline and career "lame," perhaps it would interest Dr. Sneddon to know that UNESCO has cancelled the World Philosophy Day event that was to be held in Tehran, Iran?

That's because a number of countries and professional philosophers protested that Iran does not allow the intellectual freedom or academic standards that Western philosophers enjoy every day. Students and academia are regularly persecuted in politically unstable parts of the world.

For example, Iranian student Abdollah Yousefzadegan was in solitary confinement for 95 days for being involved in an election protest. He was taken from his own home and transported to jail. How does an elite student and the gold medal winner in the National Literature Olympiads end up in prison without charges? He apparently waived his rights to freedom for expressing his ideas and being part of a government-targeted intellectual group. Look where critical thinking and action got him.

Doesn't this sort of unacceptable ethical, moral, and political behaviour demand a day for the discipline that loves wisdom?

Philosophy, and critical thinking in general, is required for the betterment of human society. I wish Dr. Sneddon had not taken the approach that people “probably don’t care” about World Philosophy Day. That’s not the point. We need a day to remember that some people and societies crack down on intellectuals, and there is no better way to do that than to mark a cultural distinction for the one discipline that many trample on, but few understand.