China Forum for Civilizational Dialogue

The rapid advance of our industrial and commercial civilization has placed the humanities on the defensive around the world.

In our universities technical subjects increasingly marginalize the study of literature and the arts. In an era of global dislocation, however, the humanities remain a critical resource for the education of self-reflective, ethical, and responsible citizens and leaders. China and the West are home to different philosophical, religious and cultural traditions that affirm, in different ways, the dignity of the human person and the value of the common good.

What are similarities and differences between the dominant approaches to the humanities and humanities education in China and the West? Can engagement with core texts and ideas drawn from different traditions, inside and outside the classroom, imbue students with a global mindset and foster mutual deeper understanding? Might the humanities offer moral and spiritual guidance in the face of global challenges including climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence?