Global Thinkers: Brook Ziporyn

In 17th-century China, a Confucian scholar wrote a passionate and sharply critical response to the newly introduced teachings of Catholicism. At first glance, this seems like a familiar story of cultural and religious conflict between East and West. But beneath the surface lies a far more intriguing question: how do we respond to ideas we deeply disagree with—and is it possible to do so without simply rejecting them? This lecture held on May 28, 2026 by the Berggruen Institute China, explored not just the arguments themselves, but the remarkable way they were presented. As Brook Ziporyn explained, the author staged a dialogue between multiple voices—voices of critique, tolerance, and reflection—all coexisting within a single mind. Rather than resolving the conflict, he allowed opposing perspectives to confront and illuminate each other. What emerged was a powerful philosophical insight: perhaps we do not always have to choose between agreement and rejection. Instead, we might learn how to hold conflicting views together, without erasing their differences. Speaker: Brook A. Ziporyn Mircea Eliade Professor of Chinese Religion, Philosophy, and Comparative Thought at the University of Chicago Divinity School Commentators: Roger T. Ames Humanities Chair Professor, Peking University Co-Chair, Academic Advisory Council, Berggruen Research Center, Peking University CHENG Lesong Dean and Professor, Department of Philosophy and of Religious Studies, Peking University