Monaco Philosophical Encounters: Saying Thank You, Why?

Monaco Philosophical Encounters: Saying Thank You, Why? organized by Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco on Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 2.30 pm in Caroline Media Library.

What is a philosophy workshop?

It’s a discussion among teenagers, but not just any discussion. Starting with an idea, a concept, or sometimes even a film or a work of art, participants debate big philosophical questions. In a philosophy workshop, there isn’t just one “right answer”: everyone searches, argues, listens to others, and shares their own ideas. These exchanges are often fascinating, especially since at this age, the desire grows to question what is taken for granted and to confront the ideas one has received in order to think differently.

Why Say Thank You?

We often say thank you without thinking. Both commonplace and precious, this little word is uttered several times a day and hundreds of times a year.

We say it because we’ve been taught to and because it’s polite. But is saying thank you simply following a rule? Of course, we say it even more sincerely when we’ve received something. So, does our “thank you” depend on the gift received or the help given? And if we haven’t received anything, can we still say thank you?

In this workshop, children will reflect on this curious question: why say thank you?

Is saying thank you automatic? Is it giving something back in exchange for what we’ve received? Do we feel obligated, or does saying thank you also bring us something? Can we say thank you to someone who isn’t there, to life, to nature… or just “to nothing in particular”?

A philosophy workshop to explore gratitude, the connection it allows us to forge with others, and to discover that saying thank you can sometimes transform our perspective on the world.