Teaching the History of Western Political Thought in Chinese Universities: A Framework of Context, Dialogue, and Application

This study addresses the prevalent issues of superficial knowledge acquisition and detached discussions in teaching the History of Western Political Thought in Chinese universities. It constructs a three-dimensional pedagogical framework centered on context, dialogue, and application. Grounded in philosophical hermeneutics (Gadamer), dialogic theory (Bakhtin), and transformative learning theory (Mezirow), this framework is designed to guide students to delve into historical contexts, engage in critical dialogue, and apply acquired knowledge to contemporary analysis. Taking the “social contract theory” unit as a case study, a four-stage teaching practice demonstrates that the framework effectively facilitates students’ transition from rote memorization to deep understanding and practical transfer. This offers a systematic solution for reforming the teaching of related high-context theoretical courses.