Overview

This unique series of lectures and seminars hosted by the Center for Intercultural Learning and the School of Philosophy at East China Normal University (ECNU) brings together prominent scholars and teachers with graduate students from around the world and promotes learning and collaborative study. We aim to encourage intercultural learning by means of studying with and through the timely content and timeless methodology of Chinese and Western philosophical thinking. In addition to learning about the concepts, frameworks, and logic of various texts and thinkers, we hope to embody them in various ways.

These series take classical xue 学 or “study” as foundational. Xue is a particular type of learning that includes modeling and reflective imitation. To engage in xue is to learn through close readings of classics, commentaries, and contemporary thinkers, and includes modeling their thinking and applying it in strategic ways, i.e., utilizing a jing 经-quan 权model that respects traditions while adapting to specific environments and needs. We thereby seek to model not only what is discussed and why, but also how.

A divided world needs more cooperative and mutual understanding. This is a global platform for intellectual dialogue and learning. We are recruiting teachers and students from all over the world: Learning together and challenging together. 

Mission

Our mission is twofold: First, develop better intercultural understanding. Ostensibly this series revolves around East-West relations, with a concentration on China and North America and Europe. In practice, we hope to bring together students from around the world, and thereby promote mutual understanding and cooperation on a broader scale, taking place in nuanced spaces. We believe that cultivating intercultural understanding can have real world impacts. Even minute improvements in social, ethical, and political realms have cascading effects. Our world is increasingly integrated and intercultural scholars can help smooth out some of the tensions and challenge biases preventing us from learning with and from others.

Second, we hope to aid in cultivating a generation of comparative scholars who can understand one another better, have meaningful engagements, and cooperate despite differences. All too often conferences and other professional philosophical forums are dominated by “male peacocks” proudly displaying themselves. Likewise, scholars with different backgrounds often miscommunicate, or otherwise miss communication. Bringing together graduate students from around the world, focusing on the best research and regular communication geared towards mutual flourishing, and inspired by the intellectual humility of classical thinkers, we hope to contribute in correcting some of the less desirable parts of current academia.

Lecture Series

Lectures will be held monthly on Zoom starting in September and ending in May. Each month will feature a different professor who will present either their most important work or more recent research. Lectures will be ninety (90) minutes with the time divided as the individual professor sees fit. Each lecture will be hosted by a Fellow of the Intercultural Center. Anyone interested in the lectures are welcome to attend. We hope professors and students alike will participate in these meetings.

In the week following the lecture, a Student Discussion Forum, hosted by a graduate student and also on Zoom, will take place. These sessions will be two hours. Any student who attended the lecture is welcome to attend the Discussion Forum. Attending the lecture is a prerequisite to participating in the discussion session, however, anyone is welcome to listen. (Professors and undergraduate students are welcome as well, but the focus is on graduate students.)

The inaugural address for the Lecture Series will be given by Professor Yang Guorong 杨国荣 and moderated by Professor Yu Zhenhua 郁振华.

Dates, times, abstracts, and links for seminars will be released 1-2 months prior to the event.

Seminar Series

A separate but parallel seminar series will take place as well. This series further realizes the goals of the 四海为学 “Learning Together” Project through promoting collaborative learning efforts in a more nuanced fashion. Each seminar will consist of one or more teachers, who can be graduate students or professors, exploring a focused topic; such as “The Female Kongzi” “Reading the Han Feizi” or “Desires in the Laozi.” Seminars will run for anywhere from two to six weeks, with two to three classes each week. Classes should be approximately two hours in length. The exact structure, suggested readings, and other issues will be outlined by the teacher.

 All are welcome to attend seminars, but the focus is on graduate students. We also expect that anyone who signs up for a particular seminar will attend the entire seminar. Teachers (including graduate students) who are interested in being part of this series should contact us.

The seminars will be held on Skype to promote community and learning.