The Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (IAS) organized a captivating guest lecture on the theme of “How to Dialogue with the Past.” on 24 November 2023. Professor Jiang Sun delivered an engaging and thought-provoking presentation about the time dimensions of historical studies. This event successfully created a platform for multidisciplinary discussions, allowing for a rich exchange of ideas from various disciplines.
The presentation was divided into five parts: “E.H. Carr and his ‘What is History?’,” “History as ‘Representation’,” “History as ‘Present’,” “All real history is contemporary history,” and “Historical interpretation = Elemental violence.” Professor Sun quoted E.H. Carr’s book “What is History?” – “History is an unending dialogue between the present and the past” – as a guiding thread for exploring the evolution of modern historiography since the nineteenth century. He analyzed different perspectives on facts, interpretation, and the connections between the past and the present (future).
Professor Sun also anticipated the future of historiography in the era of “post-modernity,” explaining the concepts and distinctions between “moral history,” “empirical history,” “problem history,” “narrative history,” and “postmodern history.” In conclusion, Professor Sun quoted Geoffrey R. Elton from “The Practice of History”: “The future is dark; the present is burdensome; only the past, dead and finished, bears contemplation.”
The lecture encouraged exploring diverse perspectives from different disciplines creating an opportunity for multidisciplinary dialogue. It attracted over 200 participants, including students and faculty members, both online and offline, sparking enthusiastic discussions.
