On Adopting the Chinese Perspective and De-Western-centrism in Teaching Western Civilization
Western Civilization,a newly mandated compulsory course for college English majors,is of special importance in promoting the new curriculum reform and in broadening students'vision.This course first started in USA during WWI and has been a pillar in its college liberal education.In the variety of American course books that have been used in China or translated into Chinese,western centrism abounds as a result of the western perspective.Some biases and fallacies have been detected while most others remain unnoticed since the west has dominated world historic discourse and their narratives have been accepted as orthodox.The Chinese perspective helps in this situation as it provides a different,if not always neutral,standpoint and the Chinese civilization is sophisticated enough to be an analogical contrast.Until we have theories and course books that take the China's stance or adopt a Chinese perspective,awareness of western centrism in American ones is necessary as it is conducive to a critical and balanced understanding of the western civilization.
Western Civilizationwestern centrismfallaciesChinese perspective
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