On the afternoon of May 20, the 20th anniversary special lecture of the Philosophy Department, part of the Kunyu River Series of lectures, was held in Room 801, Liberal Arts Building, North Campus 1, Capital Normal University. This event was organized by the College of Political Science and Law, with the theme "Deconstructing the Myth of European Civilizational Characteristics and Breaking Free from the Constraints of Western Centrism." Professor Han Zhen, Director of the Academic Committee of Beijing Normal University, served as the keynote speaker. In attendance were Li Hailiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of CNU, Wu Gaochen, Dean of the College of Political Science and Law, and Zhu Qinghua, Head of the Department of Philosophy. The event was hosted by Professor Cheng Guangyun, the head of the philosophy discipline.

Wu Gaochen presided over the opening ceremony. Following that, Li Hailiang introduced the development of the philosophy discipline at CNU and recalled the historical ties between Professor Han Zhen and CNU.

In the lecture, Han Zhen conducted an in-depth analysis of the modern construction of the narrative of continuity in European civilization. Through rich evidence from archaeology, history, political science, and other fields, he revealed the origins and development of this myth. He pointed out that the myth of continuity in European civilization is a narrative outcome since modern times, which exaggerates the connection between Greco-Roman civilization and modern Europe while neglecting its close ties with civilizations in West Asia and North Africa. Europe constructed a narrative of civilizational superiority through colonial expansion and cultural storytelling. Han Zhen called for the dismantling of Eurocentrism and the establishment of a global grand historical and civilizational perspective based on the shared values of all humanity, advocating for an equal attitude towards various cultures around the world.

At the end of the event, the teachers and students present asked questions on relevant topics and engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges. This lecture not only presented the cutting-edge directions of current academic research, but also provided an important perspective for the integration of theory and practice. The event attracted a large number of teachers and students to participate, providing a platform for in-depth communication and further promoting the collision and sharing of academic ideas.