Beyond East and West: Why Chinese classics matter today

As Athens welcomes the second World Conference of Classics, renowned scholar Roger Ames joins Tian Wei for a deep dive into why Chinese civilization should be understood on its own terms rather than through rigid Western categories. From everyday expressions rooted in classical texts to the idea of family as the organizing metaphor of Chinese culture, Ames explores how ancient traditions have persistently shaped modern Chinese life. He also tells us why Confucian ideas of harmony and relationality are valuable toward human solidarity in an increasingly interconnected world.

00:00 - 'Classical studies' defined 00:58 - Classical studies in China 02:59 - Culture, civilization and language in philosophy 04:40 - Ancient books 05:56 - Journey into Chinese philosophy 12:25 - Translating Chinese philosophy's core ideas 22:05 - Why study Chinese classics and philosophy? 30:13 - Forerunners of Chinese language and culture 37:33 - Thucydides Trap 43:30 - 'Family' concept in modern society 46:52 - AI vs human intelligence 49:49 - Career and professional shifts

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