Editor's Note: The 10th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations will be held in Qufu, Shandong province, the hometown of Confucius, from July 10 to 11, aiming to promote traditional Chinese culture and strengthen international cultural exchanges and cooperation. China Daily is inviting experts and scholars in related fields to share their insights into Confucianism, traditional Chinese culture and the dialogue among various civilizations.

Alfred Hornung, director and research professor of the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, a fellow of Academia Europaea, and honorary chair professor of Shandong University. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Q: Confucianism is an ancient philosophy in China that has influenced western thought to a certain extent. Why do you think Confucianism is popular in China and around the world?

A: My research that I've done is based on the Confucious' historical relationship with Europe and America. After the publication of the translation of his works, which appeared in Paris in 1687, this publication transformed the knowledge systems of European philosophers and had a very significant influence on the enlightenment in the 18th century. Confucius also influenced the formation of the United States in the 18th century and his ideas were included in the writing of the constitution. As far as China is concerned, it is quite obvious that Confucius has had an immeasurable impact on the country for more than 2,000 years. His ideas have influenced public lives, and the way in which people behave and try to live their lives. The institution of Confucius institutes at the beginning of the 21st century was quite significant in the sense that it offered an alternative to western ideas, and started to develop into something which one could call a bridge between East and West. So, Confucianism and its popularity is rooted in culture, history and ethnics, particularly in China and East Asia, but its universal principles of virtue, education and social harmony have a strong global appeal that many people in the world now share. 

Q: In what ways can Confucian values contribute to modern civilization and cultural continuity?

A: If you look at the ideas of Confucius, you can see that the model of educating the mind, educating your own conduct, and then extending this to the family and unit in which you live, makes you somebody who can become a leader of a sovereign community. So, this idea suddenly responds to what we could call ethical leadership and the benevolence of governance. Benevolence is the key word for Confucianism. So, in that sense, it creates a social harmony and is part of community building. If you have educated your own mind, educated your conduct and extended it to the circle around you, and then to the larger circle of the social community, this suddenly leads to a form of social harmony. The social harmony, also consists of recognizing hierarchical relationships such as in a family. Whenever I'm in China, I see the extent to which these relations with one's family and elders is a very important issue that everybody shares. There's respect for the elders and loyalty, which carries over from the family structure into social lives and the community life and creates social cohesion and stability. It is part of the overall cultural continuity that has existed in China for so long and is now being reestablished, maybe also worldwide. 

Another thing which is certainly significant that extends to modern civilization and cultural continuity is the idea of lifelong learning. That was also part of the Confucian idea that education is not restricted to a few people, but should be open to all. This refers to the practical orientation of Confucius ideas, which is always a combination of speaking and acting. Whatever kind of ideas you have, you must be able to apply them in real life. And this then also extends today to the business world, where you have developments in economic principles, which need to also be underpinned by some kind of ethical code and moral conduct. So, in professional life, we need honesty, integrity, and responsibility. So, if you have learned to navigate between the different positions in the business, such as you do in a family, then this helps to solve conflicts and also starts peace-building processes based on the harmony of shared human values.

Q: Would you like to share a favorite saying from The Analects and your understanding of it?

A: When I teach and speak to people, I always reference this phrase from The Analects "Isn't it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned? " Simply because this is something which corresponds to what Benjamin Franklin, an American polymath, used himself when he writes "Speak little, do much". So, this combination of language and action is a very important issue that is often ignored in our lives and especially when people in university frameworks focus on theoretical discourse, they don't have a practical bearing. And this is something that is essential.

But now I want to choose another saying, " The superior person is concerned with righteousness. The inferior person is concerned with profit. " (君子喻于义, 小人喻于利). I think this is a very important principle and it relates to what Confucius says about educating the mind and educating your behavior. In many areas of current life where business reigns supreme, many people follow selfish ideas and do not consider how knowledge and productivity and so on can be used for the good of all. So, in that sense, you need moral guidance in business development and to say that somebody who follows a righteous cause and behaves in a proper way, that is certainly preferrable to somebody who only seeks their own selfish gain. So, the Confucian value of emphasizing ethical conduct over material gain is something that should be spread among the younger generation, who often seem inclined to pursue only material gain.

Q: In what ways can Confucian principles guide the ethical development or the development of AI technologies?

A: I think the question is how the enormous possibilities of artificial intelligence can be guided and possibly controlled by moral concepts and ethical conduct. AI has to do with education and learning. We all now need to start learning what AI can offer, but how we can use it to better our own lives? How we can use it responsibly? We all have a responsibility to study, cultivate the mind and find ways to cope with the new system of artificial intelligence. So, this is precisely what Confucius says when he calls for lifelong learning. The advance of human knowledge into AI systems corresponds to Confucius's belief in lifelong education for all, not restricted by social status or a lack of technological tools. Artificial intelligence was given to all and should not be controlled or restricted, as in all aspects of the threefold stage of Confucius – basic ideas, education of the mind, and application of the model in the harmonious community of the family. Confucianism is a human centered philosophical system. AI is a technologically-driven tool, but I think one can combine the two in the in the sense that Confucius's teachings focus on human experience, morality, and social harmony. AI works with data processing and algorithms, designed to enhance efficiency and solve problems. So, the way in which Confucius philosophy has accompanied the evolution of humankind corresponds to the potential of AI to shape the future of humanity.