Engaging non-essentialism as lived wisdom: a dialogue between intercultural communication and Buddhism

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines some philosophical groundwork underlying intercultural studies through an inter-epistemic dialogue with Buddhism. This dialogue joins resonating developments in the two fields through their common goal of overcoming essentialism and comparable methods for praxis. It also illuminates on areas for potential advancement in intercultural theory and praxis through considering how Buddhism approaches these at nuanced levels. Particularly, the paper emphasises the needs to differentiate non-essentialism from anti-essentialism, incorporate a ‘responsibility for the self’ into intercultural ethics, and develop corresponding methods for co-existing with the vulnerability of the human mind that prompts one to act essentialistically in concrete situations. 本文借用与佛学‘跨界对话’的方式对当代跨文化研究的哲学理论基础进行分析论述。此对话将展示，跨文化研究和佛学均以对治本质主义为目标，并在指导实践行为方面发展出具有相似性的方法体系。同时，此对话也将通过对佛学在若干层面的细微解读，探讨跨文化理论和实践进一步发展的方向。此文建议，拓展跨文化研究应尤其考虑以下几点：‘非本质主义’需与‘反本质主义’相区别；跨文化伦理道德需纳入‘对自我的责任’的思考；以及（基于以上理论）发展相应的实践方法，帮助人们在生活中学习（练习）如何与人类自身思维的脆弱面（即驱使人类以本质主义的角度思维事物的‘本能’）积极共存。