he idea of a university by john henry newman

i have said that all branches of knowledge are connected together, because the subject-matter of knowledge is intimately united in itself, as being the acts and the work of the Creator. Hence it is that the Sciences, into which our knowledge may be said to be cast, have multiplied bearings one on another, and an internal sympathy, and admit, or rather demand, comparison and adjustment. They complete, correct, balance each other. This consideration, if well-founded, must be taken into account, not only as regards the attainment of truth, which is their common end, but as regards the influence which they exercise upon those whose education consists in the study of them. I have said already, that to give undue prominence to one is to be unjust to another; to neglect or supersede these is to divert those from their proper object. It is to unsettle the boundary lines between science and science, to disturb their action, to destroy the harmony which binds them together. Such a proceeding will have a corresponding effect when introduced into a place of education. There is no science but tells a different tale, when viewed as a portion of a whole, from what it is likely to suggest when taken by itself, without the safeguard, as I may call it, of others. Let me make use of an illustration. In the combination of colors, very different effects are produced by a difference in their selection and juxtaposition; red, green, and white, change their shades, according to the contrast to which they are submitted. It is a great point then to enlarge the range of studies which a University professes, even for the sake of the students; and, though they cannot pursue every subject which is open to them, they will be the gainers by living among those and under those who represent the whole circle. This I conceive to be the advantage of a seat of universal learning, considered as a place of education. An assemblage of learned men, zealous for their own sciences, and rivals of each other, are brought, by familiar intercourse and for the sake of intellectual peace, to adjust together the claims and relations of their respective subjects of investigation. They learn to respect, to consult, to aid each other. Thus is created a pure and clear atmosphere of thought, which the student also breathes, though in his own case he only pursues a few sciences out of the multitude. He profits by an intellectual tradition, which is independent of particular teachers, which guides him in his choice of subjects, and duly interprets for him those which he chooses. He apprehends the great outlines of knowledge, the principles on which it rests, the scale of its parts, its lights and its shades, its great points and its little, as he otherwise cannot

JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

In this world no one rules by love; if you are but amiable, you are no hero; to be powerful, you must be strong, and to have dominion you must have a genius for organizing

February 21 1801 in London

BORN

The Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman was an Anglican convert to Roman Catholicism, later made a cardinal, and in 1991 proclaimed 'Venerable'. In early life he was a major figure in the Oxford to bring the Church of England back to its Catholic Movement roots. Eventually his studies in history persuaded him to become a Roman Catholic. Both before and after his conversion he wrote a number of influential books. In 2010 pope Benedict XVI declared him to have attained the blessedness of heaven.

August 11 1890 Birmingham

DIED

CONTEXT

JOHN HENRY NEWMANs The Idea of a University is an ideal that would be difficult to grasp in today's context. In 1852 as a part of the effort to convince Irish Catholics to send their children to exclusively Catholic universities, rather than to Protestant Oxford, Cambridge or the mixed religion universities, NEWMAN provided a series of lectures. It formed a foundation of his most famous written work THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY: Defined And Illustrated

How NEWMAN defines KNOWLEDGE and EDUCATION

Knowledge is something which is abstract, intellectual and intangible. It is something which only can be perceived through senses Knowledge differentiates from learning. Whereas knowledge deals with all the branches of science, learning only deals with one Education is the essence of a cultivated mind which has been shaped through knowledge

Wh at i s UN I VERSI TY ?

as NEWMAN said,

"... is the place to which a thousand schools make contributions; in which the intellect may safely range and speculate, sure to find its equal in some antagonist activity, and its judge in the tribunal of truth. It is a place where inquiry is pushed forward and discoveries verified and perfected, and rashness rendered innocuous, and error exposed, by the collision of mind with mind, and knowledge with knowledge."

what are the main arguments NEWMAN puts forward as the IDEAL FUNCTIONS OF AUNIVERSITY the IDEAL FUNCTIONS OF A UNIVERSITY

arguments

Knowledge should be such that its reward is knowledge itself How universities deviates from other institutions Role of university should be extension of knowledge, rather than advancement Importance of Liberal Arts And Philosophy Priority of university should be LIBERAL, not MECHANICAL knowledge STUDIES AND STUDENTS : both are important Make students gentlemen Necessary integrity between CHURCH and UNIVERSITY Search of truth as a revelation to God Science and theology should have harmony Distinctly ENGLISH idea of a university

Knowledge should be such that its reward is knowledge itself

Knowledge is an end in itself, to be pursued for its own sake and not for some utilitarian value Knowledge has a very tangible, real, and sufficient end, though the end cannot be divided from that knowledge itself The constitution of human mind should be such that knowledge is its ultimate reward This separates philosophical study from utilitarian ones, for it does not lead to any moral or professional values The end of this knowledge is liberal or philosophical knowledge which serves the extension of knowledge itself, and which sustains eternally

How university deviates from other institutions of higher studies

Universities should be a place of extension of knowledge, rather than advancement Universities should be different in principles from the much celebrated academias of France and Italy It is a seat of Liberal knowledge rather than mechanical learning Universities should be focused on the adhesive that holds all branches of science together which in essence is humanities and philosophy University should have a institutions do not require so

vibrant

Theology

department,

other

Role of university should be extension of knowledge, rather than advancement.

Education in a university is not specific but general. A university, contrary to an academia does not serve the purpose for research and development. A ground for combining and extending all sorts of teaching to the students rather than developing a certain field of study. It creates a pure and clear environment of thought for the students, allowing them to study their respective subject of investigation in relation of the different views and ideas. Instead of developing the students knowledge in a narrow and partial way, it acquaints them with knowledge as a whole and creates in them a habit of thought that is familiar with the various aspects of liberal and scientific endeavors.

Importance of LIBERAL ARTS and PHILOSOPHY

NEWMAN defines the study of Arts, Humanities, Literature, Theology, Philosophy as LIBERAL ARTS Liberal Arts relies more on the cultivation of mind through reason rather than instructions that aim for a specific outcome Liberal education develops a habit of mind which NEWMAN declares to be the main purpose of a university Philosophy aids NEWMANs idea of attaining knowledge as a whole.

Priority of university should be liberal, not mechanical knowledge.

Newman was anti-utilitarian towards his approach to knowledge. He termed the two sides of knowledge as liberal and mechanical Any knowledge that was used for professional purposes was termed as mechanical knowledge Though Newman didnt denounce the importance of mechanical knowledge, he thought it could only perform a small part The real purpose of of knowledge was the cultivation of mind, which was only possible through liberal sciences

Studies and Students, both are important

The Universities should not only focus on the studies ,but the moral and intellectual development of students. This can only be achieved if they fall under the full circle , which comprises of all the branches of knowledge. If the student doesnt develop the habit of thinking , then the development particular branch of knowledge doesnt serve its purpose. Thus Newman puts studies and students on an equal footing , one does not survive without the other. Students profit by an intellectual tradition, which is independent of particular teachers, which guides him in his choice of subjects, and only interprets for him those which he chooses.

Making students gentlemen

The function of university education is to produce a group of people who are literate and cultured, to produce gentlemen who are full of common sense and who can master any situation. Gentleman should be such who gives the importance of reason over anything else. He is inclined to cultivate his mind and live on high moral and ethical values. Newmans idea of a gentleman was the basis of a latter intellectual community.

Necessary integrity between CHURCH and UNIVERSITY

The University which Newman works for had specifically been administered by the church, thus Newman suggests that all catholic universities should follow the model. The church should patronize science and philosophy for the religions sake. For the church and university, the common ally is truth and both preachers and professors are its advocates. Contrary to the exclusion of church from higher education it should govern the whole circle of education. The University still has the office of intellectual education but the church steadies it in the performance of the office.

Search of truth as a revelation to God

Knowledge should bridge the gap between science and God. Theology can be the vital tool for this subject. The protestant Universities can rudimentary approach to Science. deviate the Catholics by their

Newman was systematical on his approach towards theology, and believed that truth was the common ally of both University and the Church Most importantly , Newman believed students should pursue science as a liberal art to prove the existence of God and further strengthen the teachings of the Church

Science and theology should have harmony

Mechanical knowledge also should delve into the realms of theology Science and religion cannot come into conflict, unless they are misapprehended or misunderstood. Science and theology should run parallel to each other, sine they both lead to the same end, the truth. Through science, reason and revelation the mind could gain genuine knowledge of God.

Distinctly ENGLISH idea of a university

NEWMANs take on civilization was distinctly western. He did not take in considerations the Sanskrit or Moorish houses of learning He was keen on establishing this model in Ireland, where the supreme pontiff commissioned a Catholic university His model of a university was based on his beloved Oxford He also denounced academias in France and Italy as mere houses of learning rather than a place of knowledge

SUMMARY of the excerpt

Summary
Since its publication almost 150 years ago, The Idea of University has had an impact on showing the "light" to higher education, or so to speak Universities. The issues Newman raised was the of religion and moral values, the relation of religion and science, that knowledge being its own reward, the difference between liberal and professional science and the advent of an intellectual community through the study of philosophy. The excerpt taken from John Henry Newmans The Idea of a University focuses on the knowledge, which is regarded as a "whole" and "universal". Newman believed that knowledge is a tree and the subjects are its branches, which counter-balances and harmonizes each-other. Newman also states Theology as a commendable branch of science which forms the Foundation of his idea of a University. His lectures delve deep into the subjects such as connection of physical science and theology, anti-utilitarianism of knowledge and core values of a university, and why it differs from academias and colleges. After so many years, even after Newman's death, the idea of a University is regarded as a plea for liberal education