القمّة الدوليّة للفلسفة “العيش المشترك والحوار بين الشّعوب”

International Summit of Philosophy "Common Living and Dialogue among Peoples"

September 26, 2025

Under the theme "Coexistence and Dialogue among Peoples", the House of Philosophy participates in the Barletta Manifesto in Italy. Representing the Arab region, the House of Philosophy delegation joined a distinguished group of philosophers and thinkers at the G7 2024 Summit in Italy to participate in the drafting of the Barletta Manifesto.

7th Nations Group 2024
Barletta, Italy May 24-2323, 2024

A statement on philosophy and cultural constructivism:

In a world filled with many accelerating challenges and growing opportunities for growth, there is an urgent need for serious philosophical insights and responses. Growing poverty, insecurity, diminishing freedoms, and the spread of conflict require us to look for new ways of living together.

Philosophy:

Philosophy provides unique resources in a rapidly globalizing world. It studies the basic assumptions and principles of our different practices and theories, and has always flourished and developed through dialogue – or rather, multilateral dialogue – between different perspectives. It is therefore uniquely positioned to encourage thinking from different angles and around different perspectives.

Philosophy has sometimes led to the establishment of strong convictions and monolithic ideologies. Philosophers have sometimes failed to recognize the diversity and differences between languages and traditions. However, philosophy, as a branch of contemplative knowledge, is able to identify preconceived hypotheses and assumptions.

Philosophical thinking encourages civic and democratic participation and helps develop the knowledge and skills to listen, express and communicate effectively. The intellectual and cultural exchange that characterizes philosophy has played (and continues to play) an important role in promoting dialogue among civilizations and coexistence.

Philosophy Today:

Philosophy has played a major role in academia around the world, although this role has evolved in a variety of ways over the centuries. But academic philosophy in Europe and the English-speaking world has become more reflective of European centralism, and this has been partially replicated and globalized elsewhere in the world as a result of European expansion and colonialism.

Universities are gradually becoming aware of this, recognizing the need to expand philosophical programs and diversify their curricula, but constantly encountering many major cultural, structural, and institutional obstacles to overcoming these problems, which are caused by imbalances and asymmetries in university systems, as well as wider social imbalances.

Universities play a strong role in determining academic programs and curricula and in setting educational and research agendas. Universities do this in response to social or political needs, financial constraints, and cultural trends. It inevitably leads to the inclusion of certain themes, personalities, Syriacs and approaches to the detriment of others.

This loss is compounded by the increasing dominance of English as the world’s academic language. This has devalued philosophical thinking in other languages, narrowing the discourse’s horizons in conceptual resources, content, styles, and perspectives. Taking linguistic diversity seriously is vital for real philosophical dialogue among civilizations.

Intercultural Approaches:

Today’s world faces major environmental, social, political and technological challenges that threaten the future of all life forms. These challenges require concerted efforts from all countries and communities to respond effectively and engage in constructive dialogue, based on a genuine understanding of the views of other parties.

The development of an active, multicultural approach to the philosophical community, and in the humanities in general, will enable us to deal with the problems of exclusion and lack of diversity. [In this context], one of the most effective basic philosophical skills will be the ability to think from the point of view of others. This includes understanding ideas and problems critically.

A call to true co-existence:

The term "living together" – in keeping with the origin of its linguistic development – looks for patterns of shared action that cross differences, are based on the adoption of diversity and cultural diversity, and resonates in many philosophical traditions. It embraces the coexistence, globally, of many different and sometimes radically opposing ways of thinking.

The concept of co-existence has sometimes been criticized for not paying enough attention to disagreement and difference. However, our proposal is to move beyond this criticism by mobilizing the immersion of philosophy in argument, working through and across different perspectives to truly develop the concept of co-existence. By this, we mean a new form of philosophical thinking that radically emphasizes sharing. By encouraging broad dialogue across existing borders – and celebrating the creation of new intellectual spaces – we can develop new concepts, revive old ones, and renew them for peaceful and sustainable living.

Action Plan:

The following action points have been proposed to promote co-existence, the value and practice of philosophy, and approaches to cultural constructivism:

Express a strong commitment to expanding philosophical and humanistic education, especially among young generations, across different levels of education, with an emphasis on continuity between secondary and higher education, and on expanding the presence of philosophy in public life.

The benefit of this procedure is that philosophy and the humanities contribute in a unique and important way to (a) personal growth and social cohesion; (b) intercultural communication and co-existence; (c) resilience in adaptation and well-being; (d) the purposeful use of digital technology and artificial intelligence, and philosophy’s vision of their limits and possibilities; and (e) the promotion of peace and the development of citizenship.

Ensure that borders do not hinder coexistence, intercultural dialogue and academic exchange. Universities and academic institutions should be recognized as places of refuge and supported with adequate resources.

Philosophy, as a field concerned with fundamental issues of humanity, is studied and practiced across borders and has been enriched throughout its history through cross-cultural exchange. Visa restrictions are a barrier to all this. The growing logic that turns borders into hotbeds of exclusion, violence and dehumanization must be resisted and condemned.

Taking the necessary measures to respect and protect academic freedom, eliminate censorship, intimidation and persecution, and promote and facilitate academic growth, mobility and exchange.

Addressing structural and material deficiencies to facilitate participation in the global academic community.

5- Enhancing the networks of academic philosophers through multi-level work, including: (a) supporting philosophical institutions in universities and research bodies; (b) promoting philosophical dialogue across different regions of the world; (c) increasing and expanding the scope of exchange of students and researchers, with special attention to South-South, East-West and North-South mobility; (d) dissemination.

Barletta, May 24, 2024