DGPA Hosts Seminar Series: Prof. Tang Shiqi Discusses “Certain Knowledge and Possible Knowledge in Political Science”

The Department of Government and Public Administration (DGPA) at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, successfully held a Seminar Series lecture on January 17, 2026. Professor Tang Shiqi, Boya Distinguished Professor and Dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University, was invited to deliver a talk entitled “Certain Knowledge and Possible Knowledge in Political Science.” Professor Tang is also Director of the Center for Eastern and Western Culture Studies at Peking University, a member of the National Security Studies Disciplinary Review Panel of the State Council, and Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee for Graduate Education in International Affairs under the Ministry of Education. His research focuses on the history of Western political thought, contemporary Western political philosophy, and comparative politics.

In his lecture, Professor Tang explored the epistemological foundation of both Western and Chinese intellectual history. He observed that Western thought has historically valued certainty, seeking knowledge that is universal and unchanging. Conversely, Chinese tradition has embraced the fluid and specific nature of knowledge, which allows for greater individual cultivation and creativity. Professor Tang concluded by asserting that synthesizing these two distinct approaches is now both a practical possibility and a pressing necessity

Almost 90 faculty members and students attended the lecture, and they are deeply engaged in discussions on comparative political philosophy and the prospects for cross-civilizational intellectual synthesis.