Navigating Parallel Intellectual Universes: An Example of Academic Freedom

Abstract

Illustrating first the profound impact of Western learning on China's contemporary knowledge system, this article points out that modern education in China is a mix of Chinese and Western intellectual traditions. In an era of globalization with unprecedented human connectivity, it argues for a bi/multi-cultural intellectual mind for non-Western scholars to navigate between Western and their own traditions. Citing academic freedom as an example, this article posits that it does not make much sense to judge one intellectual tradition according to another. In order for Western concepts and theories to work well in non-Western societies, scholars need to develop a deep understanding of both. Such an argument has strong implications for how to observe China and Chinese education.