A Comparative Analysis of Western and Chinese Notions of Humility

• In Event: Ways of Knowing, Ways of Being

Abstract

Humility has recently received increased attention in Western scholarship and society. It is seen as essential to promote recognition of personal limitations and respect for and tolerance of difference. However, recent philosophical inquiries indicate that the concept of humility can differ across social arenas and cultural traditions. More generally, conceptions of character traits and virtues such as humility are seen to vary widely across cultures, given different views of the relationship between oneself and others. This paper will compare notions of humility in Western and Chinese philosophical and educational contexts. The investigation can contribute to enhanced cross-cultural understanding of humility across Western and Chinese societies, and their enactment in educational contexts.

Authors

• Liz Jackson, University of Hong Kong

• Ji Ying, Education University of Hong Kong

• Carla Briffett Aktaş, Xi'an Jiaotong University

• Mark G. Harrison, Hong Kong Shue Yan University