Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.10, 2017

 

From the Life-world to Cross-Cultural Dialogue

(Abstract)

 

Wang Jun

 

The life-world’s implications of an open world lay the theoretical foundation for global cross-cultural dialogue and provide guidelines for practice. The unfolding of inter-subjective communication behavior based on the life-world, the integration of distinct cultural worlds within an inter-subjective framework, freedom as the nature of truth and truth’s presentation in an open world, etc., all point to openness as a characteristic of the world. These concepts are the basis of the “reflective judgment” of the “wisdom of practice,” as familial experience is the basis of the ethical habit of “shyness/timidity.” They provide an attitude of practice that is consistent with the philosophical conception of the life-world, enabling the maintenance of an open world that is public and inter-subjective. In a multicultural world, such an attitude arrives at a new cross-cultural philosophical practice involving a multipolar dialogue that starts with the common interests of mankind, follows the principle of different but equal, seeks consensus in ample dialogue between multiple participants, and builds a community of shared future for mankind through dialogue.