The National Philosophy Award "The figures of thought" was established by the National Philosophical Practices Association in 2007. The idea was born from the desire of the philosopher Mario Guarna, President of the Award, to give visibility to those Western and Eastern philosophical forms, which they are often not taken into consideration by traditional philosophy.
In the first editions of the award, the sections were defined: “Aphorisms”, “Paradoxes”, “Haiku”, “Oxymorons”, “Absurd” and “Koan”. Over the years, the following sections have been added: "Epitaffi", "Philosophical magazine", "Philosophical essay", "Philosophy Award", "Philosophical Practices", "Philosophical Event", "Academic Research".
Authors from all over the world participated in the editions of the Award and 192 winners in the various sections were declared. At the media level, the National Philosophy Award found excellent feedback with articles published in local and national newspapers and magazines in the sector.
The novelty of the eighth edition was the publication of the volume The figures of thought, which collects the finalist works of the sections: Aphorisms, Aphorisms Junior, Haiku, Epitaphs, Paradoxes and reflections on the period of Coronavirus. The section “Image of thought” has been included in the announcement of the eleventh edition. In the twelfth edition the section "Aphorisms Junior" has been included.

Mario Guarna graduated in Philosophy in 2004 at the University of Florence. In the same year, his unpublished work Mirò is elsewhere was awarded the Gold Florin at the Florence International Award. In 2006, the first prize at the "Totus Tuus" National Prize was awarded to his degree thesis, Philosophy of the Far - The Theory of Humor in Pirandello.
In January 2007 he founded the National Association of Philosophical Practices, of which he became president, converted, in August 2014, into the Association of Philosophical Practice Professionals.
In April 2006, he established and presided over the National Philosophy Prize "The figures of Thought", now in its fourteenth edition this year.