Stelios Virvidakis: Chinese and Western Ethics Are Essential Guides for People’s Life

Chongqing- This summer, Professor Stelios Virvidakis of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens brought the timeless art of ethical inquiry to Southwest University in Chongqing. Over the course of his lectures, he and his Chinese students embarked on a remarkable intellectual odyssey—traversing ancient traditions and modern thought to unearth the profound wisdom woven into both Western and Chinese moral philosophies.  Sitting down for an exclusive interview with the iChongqing reporter, Prof. Stelios Virvidakis offered a compelling vision of ethics—not as an abstract theory, but as a compass for personal life, a cornerstone for social stability, and a bridge for global harmony. While acknowledging the necessity of law, he firmly argued that it falls short without the guiding force of morality. The two, he insisted, must walk hand in hand, requiring us to cultivate both legal acumen and moral sensitivity.