40th Anniversary International Congress of Philosophy for Children “Knowledge - Values - Change - New Realities and Future Generations”

Our world is undergoing profound change. Knowledge, reality and society are being transformed as a result of new technologies, complex interrelationships and growing political and social challenges. In the face of increasing crises - armed conflicts, climate change and technological transformations - the question arises as to how we might meet these global challenges.

Numerous questions arise, especially as they might affect - future generations: What role does knowledge play in a changing world? How do we deal with the tension between knowledge and non-knowledge? What challenges and opportunities occur for democratic societies? What impact does AI have on knowledge, education and social values? How can we reflect on these questions and concerns philosophically and thereby play an active role in shaping our societies response to them?

The last 40 years the Austrian Center of Philosophy with Children and Youth (ACPC) - has been providing essential programs, trainings and curricula to promote thinking skills, in order to better explore the philosophical dimensions of experience. Doing philosophy with children and adolescents has shown us that they are capable of thinking critically and creatively, and that a major aim of education should be to help children become more reasonable and able to make better judgements. The benefits of philosophy come through the doing – through active engagement in rigorous philosophical inquiry and dialogue.

The International Conference on Philosophy for Children 2025 is dedicated to the transformations that are shaping our reality and future generations. Questions about knowledge and information, social developments and the conditions for a democratic future will take central stage