This paper discusses the possibility of the intercultural communication.
To this aim, I have chosen several historical examples from the 17th and
18th european philosophers, Malebranche, Leibniz, and Christian Wolff.
This is because their philosophical writings display how each of them
understood chinese natural theology and morality. From this study we can
learn mainly two things. First, a full understanding of texts is necessary to
true philosophical communication and exchange. The cases of the three
philosophers have shown that the limits of textual understanding inevitably
produce numerous misunderstandings and unilateral evaluations. Second, we
can find three models of approaching other cultures. Malebranche can be
described to take a transcultural standpoint. He does not pay attention to
cultural differences but assuming that every human is in the same
circumstance he seeks after the discovery of truth. Leibniz takes a
intercultural standpoint. He does not ignore differences and also wants to
listen to the voice of others. Though Wolff maintains the necessity of
revelation and grace, he takes a naturalistic attitude toward morality and
ethics. Wolff teaches us that the intercultural understanding is possible
through common naturality and nature in human.