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.