What I Learned from This Dialogue: A Reflection

The workshop’s design was a masterstroke of intellectual engagement. Western scholars were tasked with defending Eastern values, while their Eastern counterparts were charged with championing Western values. This intriguing setup, I believe, was inspired by the desire to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultural perspectives. It seemed to resonate with the Confucian teaching of “emulating the virtuous” (见贤思齐), encouraging participants to recognize the strengths in others’ cultures while critically examining the limitations of their own.