论通识教育之文化自觉

The Cultural Consciousness of General Education

孔子创立开放的、平等的教育体系,以养成君子,塑造和维护优良社会秩序。现代中国教育体系与此传统断裂,其根本特征是道德和文化的虚无主义,仅致力于传授技术性知识,而未能传承文明,养成君子。今日中国教育当具有文化自觉,大学通识教育当弥补技术性知识传授体系之不足,以传承文明、养成君子作为目标。为此,大学通识教育体系当以中国经典研读为中心。如此大学教育,方能养成君子,以塑造良好社会秩序,并承担中国之世界历史责任。

Confucius established an open and equal educational system to cultivate Junzi (scholar) and thus shape and maintain a good social order. China’s modern education system, however, is disconnected with this great educational tradition. The fundamental character of modern education system is moral and cultural nihilism, which are merely to teach technical knowledge, but not to inherit civilization and cultivate Junzi. Today, China’s education establishment should have a consciousness of Chinese culture. To be specific, general education in Chinese universities should aim at inheriting Chinese civilization and cultivating Junzi, to remedy the mere focus on technology in current higher education system. General education in higher education, therefore, should focus on Chinese classics reading. In this way, the higher education will be able to cultivate Junzi, and thus establish a good social order and undertake the historical responsibility that the world brings to China.