The Second World Conference of Classics, held from June 9 to 10 in Athens, Greece, served as a vital platform for the modern world to draw upon classical wisdom, address contemporary challenges, and promote the advancement of civilization.
Under the theme "Dialogue Between Ancient and Modern Civilizations: Contemporary Inspirations from Classical Wisdom", the conference brought together more than 200 scholars, researchers and cultural representatives from Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.
Classics, the discipline of organizing, translating, interpreting and researching ancient texts, became a formal academic field in Western universities by the late 18th century. But experts say the interpretation of ancient classics has long been present in both China and the West, and every classical civilization has its own tradition of classical studies.
"Classics emerged as a discipline during the rise of modern European civilization. Over the past few centuries, it has focused on the rediscovery and organization of ancient Greek and Roman classics. China may not use the same term for the studies, but it has its own tradition of classical studies that has continued throughout the ages," said Liu Xiaofeng, honorary professor at the School of the Community for the Chinese Nation of Minzu University of China.
The study of classics is not merely about ancient texts, experts say, but about reinterpreting classical wisdom for today. As the world is grappling with common challenges, turning to both Eastern and Western classics for insight is more crucial than ever.
The first World Conference of Classics, held in China in 2024, created a global platform for scholars and opened up a broader vision for the study of classical civilizations worldwide.
"The first World Conference of Classics redefined the field's boundaries. The second conference saw Chinese classical scholars all gather in Athens for the first time, alongside researchers on ancient Egypt, India, and Persia. That truly brought the idea of a 'garden of civilizations' to life. Together, they discussed topics that offer insights for the world today, such as peace and order, friendship, and technology and civilization," said He Fangying, director of the Research Center for Classical Civilization at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Ancient wisdom powers modern world at classics conference
