Philosophy professor addresses world audience

Peimin Ni, professor of philosophy and coordinator of East Asian Studies, spoke to a global audience in Paris about how Chinese traditions could impact human rights.

Ni gave the opening plenary address to 150 delegates at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Public Forum in Paris on March 13. He said the audience was comprised of scholars, religious leaders and government officials from around the world; goals of the conference, “Dialogue of Civilizations,” included an exchange of views of human rights issues and to increase mutual understanding among world cultures.

“Human rights is still an evolving concept,” Ni said. “For as our understanding of human rights gets richer and more mature, there is a need for contributions from different cultures.”

He said he was the only presenter to address aspects of Chinese culture; Ni was recommended as a speaker by a conference organizer. Ni’s address, “What Can Confucianism Contribute to a Global Human Rights Discourse,” was well-received, he said.

Ni shared his experiences with his classes. “It’s good for our students to see that we’re not just teaching theories, but, as practitioners, this work is part of actual cultural enrichment in the real world with contributions from all walks of life,” he said.

Photo courtesy of Peimin Ni / Peimin Ni is pictured at the UNESCO World Public Forum, where he gave a plenary address.