This shift returns to its historical roots, reminiscent of ancient Greece, where Socrates engaged in public dialogues in the Athenian marketplace, or ancient China, where Confucian and Daoist thought shaped social and ethical life.
A remarkable example of the global revival of philosophical practice was the recent APPA event featuring Xiaojun Ding, a pioneering Chinese practitioner and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Xi'an Jiaotong University, China. Lou Marinoff hosted the discussion for nearly two hours, leaving us speechless as we discovered the tremendous interest in philosophical counseling in China.
What was particularly striking was learning that all significant texts and articles on philosophical practice have been translated into Chinese by Professor Xiaojun Ding and her colleagues. This effort reflects the growing recognition of philosophy’s practical applications in China, signaling an exciting expansion of philosophical counseling into new cultural and intellectual landscapes.
This event reaffirmed that philosophical practice is not just experiencing a revival in the West but is also gaining momentum in the East, where it is being embraced with remarkable enthusiasm and academic rigor.
This renewed interest in applied philosophy is evident across various sectors. In 1979, a significant milestone was reached when a hospital in Mississippi appointed philosopher Paul Sharkey as a philosopher-in-residence, recognizing the value of philosophical reflection in healthcare settings. Similarly, the Italian city of Corigliano d'Otranto made headlines when it hired a philosopher as a municipal consultant, making philosophical guidance accessible to its residents in navigating personal and societal issues.
Education has also embraced this movement. In Australia, "Philosophy for Children" has been integrated into elementary education, fostering critical thinking and ethical reflection from an early age. Meanwhile, academic research in the field has gained recognition, with two leading journals, the International Journal of Philosophical Practice and the Journal of the American Philosophical Practitioners, dedicated to exploring its methodologies and impact.
This global trend has reached Sweden as well. In 2011, the Swedish Society for Philosophical Practice was established, providing a platform for professional philosophical counseling and fostering a community of practitioners dedicated to making philosophy a living, breathing part of contemporary society.
Philosophical practice is also experiencing a revival in Turkey. Prof. İbrahim Özdemir, a professor of philosophy at Üsküdar University and a certified practitioner by the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA), has been at the forefront of this movement. He has taught undergraduate and graduate students philosophical counseling, contributing to the institutionalization of philosophical practice in the country.
His efforts reflect a growing recognition of philosophy’s practical applications in addressing contemporary challenges, from personal struggles to broader social and ethical dilemmas.
As philosophy reclaims its place in public life, its role in fostering reflection, dialogue, and human flourishing grows more relevant, reaffirming its timeless significance across cultures and disciplines.
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