Nicola Polloni’s research spans disciplines, focusing on medieval hylomorphism and theories of matter. Photo: PROVIDED TO CSST

The significance of classics extends well beyond a mere understanding of history and tradition. They serve as a bridge between the past and the future, offering enduring wisdom to guide humanity forward. Today, the value of classics as a treasure trove of ideas remains ripe for deeper exploration. In a recent interview with CSST, Nicola Polloni, an associate professor of Medieval Philosophy at the University of Messina, Italy, reflected on the contemporary relevance of classical studies, its enduring mission, and the cultivation of a new generation of scholars and audiences. He emphasized that classical studies play a vital role in addressing the challenges of modern society, promoting the harmonious coexistence and mutual prosperity of diverse civilizations, and contributing to the building of a global community with a shared future for mankind. 

Look back for building a better future

CSST: What is the significance of studying classics in modern times?

Polloni: The significance is pretty obvious when we have to reconstruct our past. But I don’t think that’s enough. What we are doing is to build a new and better society. We can do that only if we know our past and use it to think of and reshape a better future.

I do philosophy, and of course, the questions we face today are very different from those of the past. But if you look at the roots of those problems in ethics, metaphysics, or natural sciences, you will find some commonality. Many of the issues we grapple with today have precedents in past philosophical debates. The arguments and solutions from the past can be helpful as we work to formulate new ways of addressing these challenges and building a better future for everyone. In this sense, I believe that one of the most important contributions that philosophy can offer is bridging past and present.

There is no shared future without a deep understanding of how classical values have shaped our societies—particularly, though not exclusively, in Europe and China. These values have taken forms that are sometimes different, sometimes similar, and both need to be appreciated in order to foster real dialogue between our cultures and to form genuine friendship among our nations. By doing so, we can avoid the violence of unipolar narratives and instead work towards constructing a shared future for our world.

Classics and globalization

CSST: What role do classics play in blending globalization with localization, and history with modernity?

Polloni: Advancing the role of classics in fostering new approaches to cross-cultural dialogue is essential for the very survival of this discipline in Europe. The real challenge lies in finding ways for scholars working within different traditions to engage with a broader, global perspective.

We live in a globalized world, brimming with potential to improve lives across the planet. This process is ongoing, and its full effects are not yet clear. I believe there are two possible paths forward. One path involves unipolar narratives that drive cultural assimilation, gradually eroding diversity in favor of a hegemonic culture. This tendency has already had a profound impact, but it is not the only option.

The alternative is a model that values local cultures and traditions as inherently meaningful, viewing globalization as an opportunity to respectfully combine them into something larger and more inclusive. This approach is transformative in a different way: while preserving the unique identity of each culture, it seeks to integrate them into a harmonious whole, fostering mutual enrichment through dialogue and comparison. In this way, local communities and cultures can become active participants on the global stage. 

This duality of approaches is also evident in how the West often views the past. In recent years, many have succumbed to the temptation of idealizing a golden age, projecting it onto the present and imagining that the future lies in restoring this lost past. This self-deception has dire consequences, the chief of which is the inability to envision a better future for all humanity by addressing urgent issues like climate change and social inclusion. This nostalgic mindset stifles such efforts.

What we lack is a widespread historical consciousness. The past must be studied to understand the roots of our cultures and the events that shaped them. But as I have emphasized, the ultimate goal is to build a better future. The future must not be seen as the mere restoration of a gilded past, but as a realm of unexpressed possibilities, waiting to be shaped into something that enhances the lives of future generations as well as ours.

Promoting the study of diverse classical traditions and fostering global networks of collaboration can help shape a vision of globalization that is both inclusive and enriching. At the same time, these collaborative efforts can encourage a broader understanding that the past–and in a way, the present as well–has real meaning only when projected towards the future.

CSST: How do you view the relationship between different cultural and intellectual traditions, and what commonalities do you think they share? 

Polloni: I believe that each culture is characterized by distinct cultural and linguistic traditions: an intellectual heritage made of books, oral accounts, and the transmission of knowledge. Yet I also believe these unique stories share some commonalities in the constant effort of human beings to respond to some of the “big questions” which, at a meta-level, appear to be extremely close across different traditions. This is evident, for instance, in ethics: What are the foundations of the ethical behavior of human beings? How does a good person behave? These big questions have been addressed in different ways by different traditions. But the posing of similar questions seems to point out a commonality of key features which, in the form of questions about human beings and the universe they live in, are crucial for the individual histories of distinct cultures, but also worth a broader, more global consideration.

Only by knowing the history of our societies and the ideals that inspired them can we start such a meaningful dialogue. Yet this dialogue must be among peers and pursued through mutual recognition. To quote from The Analects of Confucius, “The gentleman aims at harmony, and not at uniformity.” This message is key to the Chinese government’s cultural actions in the past few years. China is working to lay the ground for a new, better-equipped, and mutually respectful way to engage with cross-cultural dialogue. As scholars, we will contribute to the harmony among civilizations, recognizing every culture and tradition as a unique and fundamental piece of something greater.

CSST: In your experience, how do Western and Eastern traditions differ in their approach to philosophy?

Polloni: In the West, many authors are often fixated on theory, or at least the focus of reflection tends to be on theory itself rather than its application. In the East, particularly in China, there has always been a practical side to philosophical inquiry. This practical aspect is one of the most fascinating features of Chinese philosophy.

Conferences like the World Conference of Classics are so important because they bring together diverse approaches to studying the classics—different kinds, so to speak, of classics. They break down the disciplinary boundaries that often dominate, especially in the West. Through this, we have an opportunity to lay the groundwork for building a more inclusive society, one that avoids the limitations of a partial, unipolar narrative focused solely on the West or the East.

Disseminating classical knowledge

CSST: What do you think are some of the most common misconceptions about classics?

Polloni: Let me start by addressing a bias that’s quite common. At least in Europe, and especially in Italy, where I come from, there’s a prevailing misconception that classical thought, and doing classics, is simply boring. It’s a repetition of something old. The popular idea is that we need something new all the time, and that each year brings new discoveries, while the past often seems irrelevant or even useless. But this is far from the truth. Classics can be a treasure trove of new ideas.

CSST: Do you think the younger generations are interested in classics?

Polloni: I don’t think they are interested in studying the classics necessarily, and that’s one of the challenges we face. But again, I believe it’s one of the classicists’ duties to motivate them. We can’t just blame the new generation by saying “Okay, they’re not interested in classical studies.” There’s a degeneration of responsibility in that mindset. It’s our responsibility to make subjects appealing, to provide the best possible guidance and resources, and to show them that they can be creative and original through their engagement with classics.

So here we are talking about the dissemination and popularization of knowledge. It's very difficult. I have a channel focused on medieval philosophy, for instance, where I try to popularize concepts that are otherwise very difficult to grasp. It’s quite challenging to communicate these ideas without trivializing them, especially when the audience is non-academic. But isn’t this similar to what we do with students, particularly at the undergraduate level? We have to find ways to make what we do appealing and accessible without diluting its complexity or depth.

CSST: What is the mission of classical studies, especially when it comes to communicating knowledge to others?

Polloni: We have to contribute to laying the groundwork for a shared future in which global traditions and cultures can thrive through mutual recognition. This may sound a bit radical, but I strongly believe this. Naturally, as classicists, we need to work in our fields and reconstruct past cultures and ideas. I am a historian of philosophy, so for me, ideas are crucial. Yet, the value of these ideas from the past emerges from their presentification—from being brought to our present and used as ways to shape a shared future. For this reason, I believe that, for instance, the history of Western philosophy needs to find ways to open up to Eastern philosophy in our daily practices in the classroom, showing similarities and differences among distinct traditions. Only in this way can we contribute to writing a global history of philosophy projected towards the future and building bridges instead of compartmentalizing cultures and traditions. This is of course just an example of one discipline of classics. But the situation is similar with other disciplines, too.

Hence, I believe the mission we have, as scholars, is twofold. On the one hand, we need to go beyond the compartmentalization of our hyper-specialized fields and bring the valuable knowledge we reconstruct to the present day. On the other hand, we need to expand our teaching and research to create a global approach. This involves training new generations of scholars and citizens who can build a world based on mutual respect, understanding, and cultural harmony, fostering a shared sense of “us.” It is a hard task, but I believe that with epistemic humility and openness, classicists can contribute to this process quite meaningfully.

Edited by LIU YUWEI