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「知識是容易過時或遺忘的，但能力和方法卻讓人終生受益。」
劉笑敢教授簡歷
劉笑敢教授於1985年取得北京大學哲學博士學位，其後在北京大學、哈佛大學、密西根大學、普林斯頓大學和新加坡大學等多間著名院校從事教學及研究工作。自2001年起，劉教授任教香港中文大學哲學系，目前同時兼任研究院哲學部主任、中國哲學與文化研究中心主任。劉教授的研究興趣包括道家哲學、先秦諸子哲學、中國哲學史、中國近現代思想、文化與現代社會課題、中國哲學詮釋傳統、中國哲學方法論、古代文獻及簡帛資料等。
劉教授在過去多年教授UGA2170「中國近代思想史」通識課程，在內容方面和實施方面都相當出色。此課程以近代中國思想史為主題，引導同學理解和反思近代中國的歷史發展及文化變遷，並鼓勵同學探討中國近代思想與當代中國社會現象的關係。
劉教授能充分運用各種互動的教學方法，如在中大網上討論區親自指導，鼓勵同學主動學習，多作討論和反思；劉教授又在導修課中組織小組辯論，每一位同學皆有機會作主辯發言，同學能充分參與其中，辯論氣氛熱烈，這種導修形式能提升同學的分析和表達能力。在寫作方面，劉教授能給予充足的指引，並仔細地批閱學生的論文或作業初稿，給予意見，讓學生進一步深入思考或修改；在劉教授的指導和幫助下，同學皆能提交較高質素的文章，寫作和思考能力得到明顯提升。
為增加學生對課題的興趣和擴闊他們的視野，劉教授要求學生閱讀很多富啟發性的參考文獻，並透過多次小測驗，有效地評估同學的學習進度。儘管此課要求甚高，劉教授仍在學生意見調查中獲得很高的評價，更得到學生提名角逐今屆通識教學獎。同學讚揚劉教授在課堂上介紹及評述不同觀點，引導同學從不同角度進行反思，有助培養同學獨立思考和終身自學的能力。
“A piece of knowledge
easily may become outdated or even forgotten, but ability and
method, once acquired, will prove beneficial throughout one’s
life.
Biography
of Professor Liu Xiaogan
Professor
Liu Xiaogan obtained his PhD from Peking University in 1985. He
then taught and conducted research at renowned institutions such
as Peking University, Harvard University, University of Michigan,
Princeton University, and University of Singapore. In 2001 he
joined the Department of Philosophy at The Chinese University
of Hong Kong, where he is currently Professor, Head of the Graduate
Division, and Director of the Research Centre for Chinese Philosophy
and Culture. His research interests include Taoist philosophy,
the pre-Qin philosophical schools, the history of Chinese philosophy,
the intellectual history of modern China, cultural and social
issues in modern society, the hermeneutic tradition in Chinese
philosophy, methodology of Chinese philosophy, and ancient classics,
bamboo slips and silk scriptures.
Professor
Liu has been teaching UGA2170: Intellectual History of Modern
China in the past years. It has been well received for its outstanding
course design, content and implementation. The course aims to
lead students to contemplate and reflect on the historical development
and cultural changes that have taken place in the course of modern
Chinese history. Students are encouraged to discuss the key subject
matter and other phenomena as related to modern Chinese society.
Professor
Liu has been proficient in using interactive teaching methods
to stimulate his students. He made good use of internet resources
by teaching students online at CUForum, encouraging them to exercise
their critical minds, and to take the initiative in learning as
well as in class discussion. Professor Liu has also designed a
new format for tutorial classes. He divided students into different
debating teams, with each of them given a chance to be the chief
speaker to present his/her side. The heated debates enhanced their
thinking and presentation skills. Professor Liu also gave advice
to students throughout the whole writing process. He read and
commented on their drafts carefully, so that students could probe
into the issues more deeply and refine their arguments. Under
his gentle tutelage, his students were able to produce quality
work, while improving their writing and thinking skills.
In order
to foster an interest in the subject matter in students and to
broaden their horizons, Professor Liu assigned a substantial amount
of thought-provoking readings. He also gave quizzes regularly
to evaluate students’ progress and to make sure they did learn
from those assigned readings. Professor Liu has been highly praised
in students' evaluations, albeit the very demanding nature of
the course is also stressed. His exemplary teaching has won him
the nomination of the award by his student. He is commended by
his student for his presentation and analysis of controversial
viewpoints. Students have benefited from his multi-angle approach,
which help them develop independent thinking for life-long learning.
