French Academy Inauguration Speech: Georges Duby and Alain Péretié

Author: (French) Duby, Dubois, translated by Ma Ji and others
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The collection of speeches by French Academicians presented to readers includes the inaugural addresses of over ten French Academicians at the ceremonies of their induction into the French Academy or the Collège de France. These academicians come from diverse fields, including philosophy (Aron), history (Duby, Braudel), literature (Montaigne, Valéry, Yourcenar), theater (Ionesco), anthropology (Dubois), and biological sciences (Roche). Respected for their brilliant achievements and colorful works across different eras, their names have been etched in history with enduring brilliance. One of the purposes of compiling this book is to allow readers to gain insight into the spiritual demeanor of these intellectual elites and appreciate and reflect on the profound sentiments deep within their souls. As everyone knows, the inaugural speeches of the Collège de France members (such as Duby and others) are widely recognized as academic masterpieces, such as Merleau-Ponty's Words of Philosophy, Foucault's The Order of Discourse, and the Society of the Middle Ages included in this collection. This is because the tradition of the Collège de France is that teachers must always speak about what they are currently thinking and researching, rather than what has already been said by others. Such speeches truly belong to the "frontier of academia."
At the French Academy of Sciences, the welcome speeches delivered by newly inducted members do not focus on themselves but instead express deep respect and sincerity in detailing and analyzing the works and thoughts of their predecessors. Their own academic achievements are introduced by sitting academicians in the response speeches. We can see that both the speaker and the responder exhibit sincere attitudes filled with gratitude toward the subject. What is even more impressive is how thoroughly the newly inducted members are familiar with their predecessors both as individuals and as thinkers, understanding their thoughts and words in depth. It is particularly noteworthy that some newly inducted academicians, whose reputation far surpasses that of their predecessors, remain so composed in their self-assessment, humbly respecting the past while maintaining objective analysis. Such humility is truly admirable.
The vitality of a nation, a people, or even a culture, its ability to remain healthy and sustainable, and its prospects for a bright future—all depend, in part, on how it treats its predecessors and understands its traditions. Therefore, different nations, with equally long traditions, may produce vastly different outcomes due to their differing attitudes toward this issue. If we patiently read these speeches by the academicians, we will gain a deeper understanding of this point and also develop a more rational perspective on why vibrant intellectual activity often occurs in France in the 20th century.