French Academy Inauguration Speech (Rostand, Ionesco, Peretti)

Author: (French) Rodin, Ionesco, Perret-Faget, translated by Yan Xuemei et al.
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 (Dumézil), and biological sciences (Rodin). Respected for their brilliant achievements and vibrant works in their respective eras, their names have been etched in history, shining brightly. One of the purposes of compiling this book is to allow readers to gain insight into the spiritual demeanor of these intellectual elites, appreciating and experiencing the profound sentiments in their souls. As everyone knows, the inaugural speeches of the Collège de France members (such as Duby) are widely recognized as academic masterpieces, such as Merleau-Ponty's In Praise of Philosophy, Foucault's The Order of Discourse, and the one included in our collection, Medieval Society. 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 or by others. Such speeches truly belong to the "frontier of academia."
At the French Academy, the welcoming speeches by new inductees do not focus on themselves but instead express deep respect and sincerity by elaborating on and analyzing the works and thoughts of their predecessors, while their own academic achievements are introduced by incumbent academicians in response. We can see that both the speaker and the respondent exhibit sincere and grateful attitudes toward the subject. What is even more impressive is how thoroughly the new inductees are familiar with their predecessors' lives and works, as well as their thoughts and words. It is particularly noteworthy that some new inductees, whose reputation far surpasses that of their predecessors, remain so composed in their self-reflection, humbly respecting the past while maintaining objective analysis—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 hinge on how it treats its predecessors and understands its traditions. Therefore, different nations, even those with equally long traditions, may yield entirely 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 flourishes in France in the 20th century.