关键词: 间距, 对话, 多元文化, 全球化, 弗朗索瓦·于连

Abstract: In the globalizing context, cultural “divergence” (l'écart culturel) is where plural cultures are ultimately able to meet, cultivate their vitality, encourage mutual reflection and develop creativity. The “divergence” evoked by François Jullien is not the “difference” (la différence) usually being understood from an aspectual angle of distinction, while instead, to be understood from the perspective of distance. “Difference” is the source of tension, leading to “divergence”, where “in-between” (l'entre) contains fertile cultural resources to be exploited. Accordingly, the ideal way of cross-cultural communication is not to compare, but to promote self-reflection; not to explore the difference, but to manage their divergence, during which process an intelligent dialogue (un dialogue intelligible) is thus constructed. Similarly, the dialogue between China and the West should be an inclusive process, in which the heterogenizing cultural forces encounter, collide, recognize and exchange with each other, leading to the construction of a brand-new cultural entity that embraces both local cultural traditions and Universalist values. In short, the essence of divergence is to promote dialogue.

Key words: divergence, dialogue, multiculturalism, globalization, François Jullien