Confucianism gets greater resonance as Nishan Forum draws to close

Key philosophical concepts of Confucianism have been further endowed with modern notions in a forum that promoted dialogue among civilizations in east China's Shandong Province.

In the past two decades, the ancient system of thought has expanded its global footprint as people around the world have grown more interested in Chinese culture and philosophies.

The Nishan Forum on World Civilizations holds an important place in that regard. It is held annually in Confucius's birthplace and is attended by international scholars and government officials who are keen to discuss how to build harmonious societies through diverse cultural values.

As this year's edition drew to a close on Thursday, participants prepared to leave with a growing consensus that the renewed Confucian ideas hold greater significance for a variety of social topics.

In an era of rapid technological change, Confucianism was, for instance, invoked by forum attendants as a point of reference for the ethics of emerging AI technology.

At one of the sessions, Wen Haiming, deputy director of the Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies, advocated for the Confucianization of AI. He said this would guide the digital world towards the Chinese concept of "shan," or kindness.

This was seconded by Liu Lili, a professor from the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, who said the Confucian doctrine of "ren," or benevolence, underscores the importance of AI that benefits humanity and meets ethical standards.

"Confucian thoughts can significantly influence the ethical development and deployment of AI technology by advocating a human-centered approach that prioritizes user safety, privacy and overall well-being," Liu said.

As a philosophy that emphasizes "he er bu tong," or harmony in diversity, it was also referenced as being compatible with the Olympic spirit of collaboration in sports.

Confucianism focuses on cultivating "ren (benevolence)" and "li," or propriety, as well as promotes physical activities like archery and charioteering for overall personal development, said Kung Tsui-chang, a direct 79th-generation descendant of Confucius, in a written statement at another session.

Its emphasis on perseverance "fuels the development of sports, while the Doctrine of the Mean underscores the balance between physical and mental growth, harmonizing technique and spirit," Kung said. 

It views sports as a bridge connecting different cultures and peoples, especially in a rapidly changing world, thereby enhancing cooperation, friendship, cultural exchange and global peace, he added.

In another validation of Confucianism's modern relevance, Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, said "he er bu tong" is the perfect manifestation of today's world.

The destinies of countries around the world are closely intertwined, sharing both prosperity and adversity, which makes harmony all the more important, Sachs said. He called for the exploration of a global ethical framework based on the Confucian concept.

Aside from aligning the wisdom of Confucianism with modern society, the Nishan forum also released a document outlining the consensus reached by its attendants. 

Noting that dialogue is crucial for shaping a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for humanity, the document stresses viewing all civilizations with openness and equality, promoting development through mutual learning, creating new advancement models through innovation, and addressing AI's ethical challenges.

"We need to be conscious of the past, and we need to understand also that wisdom is not something that we invent. We have the wisdom to gather from those who went before us," said Lene Rubinstein, a professor of ancient history at the Department of Classics at Royal Holloway, University of London.