Abstract

This article examines Phan Chau Trinh’s concept of learning from a cultural studies perspective, focusing on the relationship between educational reform, civic awareness, and the public dissemination of knowledge. Through contextual textual analysis, the study examines two lectures delivered in 1925 and published in 1926, together with materials on the Duy Tan movement and the reception of enlightenment thought. The findings indicate that learning extended beyond formal education to encompass critical judgment, public responsibility, and participation in social life. Schools, public lectures, and printed texts provided important channels for disseminating these ideas to wider audiences. The article also identifies the historical limitations of Phan Chau Trinh’s reformist approach and discusses the relevance of intellectual autonomy to contemporary education while preserving the historical specificity of his thought.

Keywords: Civil rights, cultural practice, enlightenment, learning, Phan Chau Trinh.