Global sinologists explore the legacy of classical studies

The inaugural World Conference of Classics convened in Beijing today, with over 485 scholars from more than 30 countries and regions in attendance. The event served as a global platform for sinologists to exchange insights on the influence of classical studies on the contemporary world.

Manolis Korres, a member of the Academy of Athens, emphasized the profound historical roots of classical studies and their relevance to contemporary academia and society. He cited several ancient thinkers as examples.

"Socrates valued not only moral perfection but also the pursuit of truth through rational inquiry. Aristotle, building on Socrates' foundation, delved into issues of moral development and human behavior within society and politics. Like Confucius, he grounded his principles in ethics and empirical evidence," he said.

"And Aristotle, building upon Socrates' foundation, established a rigorous methodology that laid the groundwork for modern science. Soon after, Euclid formalized mathematical reasoning through the axiomatic method," he added.

Professor Hans van Ess, vice president of Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, mentioned the significant historical and cultural importance of classical studies in his speech. He highlighted the indispensable role of ancient Chinese language and classics in understanding Chinese culture, noting that "the linguistic expressions in works like the Mengzi, Zhuangzi, and Shiji have had a profound impact on modern Chinese language.”

Martin Kern, Professor of Asian Studies at Princeton University, called for a mechanism that would bring together top scholars studying ancient civilizations and classical literature to share their scholarly achievements.

"Our academic research should be enriched by other civilizations, which enable us to develop a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the subject matter," he said.

The conference provides a cross-cultural exchange platform for global sinologists to share and discuss their research and opinions. Sinologists have agreed that classical studies is not merely a historical discipline but also a crucial key to understanding and addressing contemporary societal challenges.

(Cover via the World Conference of Classics.)