TEHRAN _ The Department of Philosophy of St. Olaf college in US is celebrating UNESCO's World Philosophy Day on Nov. 17, with streaming a video message by a Mehr News Agency and Tehran Times newspaper columnist about a plan for peace in the Persian Gulf.

The United Nations has declared that on Philosophy Day (November 17) all people in all cultures should be encouraged to practice philosophy.

The Department of Philosophy of St. Olaf College is celebrating UNESCO's World Philosophy Day on Thursday, November 17. As part of the celebrations, Mr. Javad Heiran-Nia in Tehran (Mehr News/Tehran Times) has provided a short video outlining a plan for peace in the Persian Gulf which will be played continuously during community time in Buntrock on Philosophy Day.

Mr. Heiran-Nia would like to reciprocate by writing something about this joint venture between St. Olaf and the Iranian people in the Tehran Times and the Mehr News Agency.  The Department of Philosophy of St. Olaf College will be making a video of students and faculty sending warm wishes for peace to the Iranian people.

There will be two events on the day: a table outside of the Cage during Community time (with philosophy buttons available), and a speaker (Prof. Emeritus Ed Langerak) at 5 pm on the 6th floor of Holland Hall.

By celebrating World Philosophy Day each year, on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO underlines the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual.

"Faced with the complexity of today’s world, philosophical reflection is above all a call to humility, to take a step back and engage in reasoned dialogue, to build together the solutions to challenges that are beyond our control. This is the best way to educate enlightened citizens, equipped to fight stupidity and prejudice. The greater the difficulties encountered the greater the need for philosophy to make sense of questions of peace and sustainable development."

St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States.