The Idea of a University Defined and ... - Project Gutenberg

1 The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Idea of a UniversityDefined and illustrated : In nine Discourses delivered to theCatholics of Dublin by John Henry NewmanThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost andwith almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, giveit away or re-use it under the terms of the Project GutenbergLicense included with this eBook or online at : The Idea of a University Defined and illustrated : InNineDiscourses delivered to the Catholics of DublinAuthor: John Henry NewmanRelease Date: February 5, 2008 [Ebook 24526]Language: English**START OF THE Project Gutenberg EBOOKTHE IDEA OF A University Defined ANDILLUSTRATED.

2 IN NINEDISCOURSES delivered TO THECATHOLICS OF DUBLIN**The Idea of a University definedand IllustratedIn nine Discourses delivered to theCatholics of Dublinby John Henry NewmanContentsPreface..3 University Teaching..16 Introductory..17 Theology A Branch Of Knowledge..36 Bearing Of Theology On Other Branches Of Of Other Branches Of Knowledge On Its Own End..124 Knowledge Viewed In Relation To Learning..150 Knowledge Viewed In Relation To Professional Skill..179 Knowledge Viewed In Relation To Religion..208 Duties Of The Church Towards Knowledge..242 University Subjects, Discussed in Occasional Lectures andEssays.

3 270 Introductory Letter..271 Advertisement..272 Christianity And Letters. A Lecture in the School ofPhilosophy and Letters..273 Literature. A Lecture in the School of Philosophy andLetters..293 English catholic Literature..321 Elementary Studies..360A Form Of Infidelity Of The Day..412 University Preaching..439 Christianity and Physical Science. A Lecture in theSchool of Medicine..463 Christianity And Scientific Investigation. A LectureWritten for the School of Science..492 Discipline Of Mind. An Address To The EveningClasses..518ivThe Idea of a University Defined and illustrated : In nine Discourses delivered to the Catholics of DublinChristianity And Medical Science.

4 An Address to theStudents Of Medicine..545 Note on Page 478..561 Index..563 Footnotes ..577[vii]Hospes eram, et collegistis GRATEFUL NEVER-DYINGREMEMBRANCEOF HIS MANY FRIENDS ANDBENEFACTORS,LIVING AND DEAD,AT HOME AND ABROADIN GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND, FRANCE,IN BELGIUM, GERMANY, POLAND, ITALY, ANDMALTA,IN NORTH AMERICA, AND OTHER COUNTRIES,WHO, BY THEIR RESOLUTE PRAYERS AND PENANCE,AND BY THEIR GENEROUS STUBBORN EFFORTSAND BY THEIR MUNIFICENT ALMS,HAVE BROKEN FOR HIM THE STRESSOF A GREAT ANXIETY,THESE DISCOURSES,OFFERED TO OUR LADY AND ST. PHILIP ON ITS RISE,COMPOSED UNDER ITS PRESSURE,FINISHED ON THE EVE OF ITS TERMINATION,ARE RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELYINSCRIBEDBY THE FEST.

5 PR M. 21, 1852[viii] view taken of a University in these Discourses is the follow-ing: That it is a place ofteachinguniversalknowledge. Thisimplies that its object is, on the one hand, intellectual, not moral;and, on the other, that it is the diffusion and extension of knowl-edge rather than the advancement. If its object were scientific andphilosophical discovery, I do not see why a University shouldhave students; if religious training, I do not see how it can be theseat of literature and is a University in itsessence, and independently of itsrelation to the Church. But, practically speaking, it cannot fulfilits object duly, such as I have described it, without the Church'sassistance; or, to use the theological term, the Church is neces-sary for itsintegrity.

6 Not that its main characters are changed bythis incorporation: it still has the office of intellectual education;but the Church steadies it in the performance of that are the main principles of the Discourses which follow;though it would be unreasonable for me to expect that I havetreated so large and important a field of thought with the fulnessand precision necessary to secure me from incidental misconcep-tions of my meaning on the part of the reader. It is true, thereis nothing novel or singular in the argument which I have been[ix]pursuing, but this does not protect me from such misconceptions;for the very circumstance that the views I have been delineatingare not original with me may lead to false notions as to myrelations in opinion towards those from whom I happened in thefirst instance to learn them, and may cause me to be interpretedby the objects or sentiments of schools to which I should besimply Idea of a University Defined and illustrated .

7 In nine Discourses delivered to the Catholics of DublinFor instance, some persons may be tempted to complain, thatI have servilely followed the English idea of a University , to thedisparagement of that Knowledge which I profess to be so stren-uously upholding; and they may anticipate that an academicalsystem, formed upon my model, will result in nothing better orhigher than in the production of that antiquated variety of humannature and remnant of feudalism, as they consider it, called a gentleman. 1 Now, I have anticipated this charge in variousparts of my discussion; if, however, any catholic is found toprefer it (and to Catholics of course this Volume is primarilyaddressed), I would have him first of all ask himself the previousquestion,whathe conceives to be the reason contemplated by theHoly See in recommending just now to the Irish Hierarchy theestablishment of a catholic University ?

8 Has the Supreme Pontiffrecommended it for the sake of the Sciences, which are to be thematter, and not rather of the Students, who are to be the subjects,of its teaching? Has he any obligation or duty at all towardssecular knowledge as such? Would it become his ApostolicalMinistry, and his descent from the Fisherman, to have a zeal forthe Baconian or other philosophy of man for its own sake? Is[x]the Vicar of Christ bound by office or by vow to be the preacherof the theory of gravitation, or a martyr for electro-magnetism?Would he be acquitting himself of the dispensation committedto him if he were smitten with an abstract love of these matters,however true, or beautiful, or ingenious, or useful?

9 Or rather,does he not contemplate such achievements of the intellect, asfar as he contemplates them, solely and simply in their relationto the interests of Revealed Truth? Surely, what he does hedoes for the sake of Religion; if he looks with satisfaction onstrong temporal governments, which promise perpetuity, it is forthe sake of Religion; and if he encourages and patronizes artand science, it is for the sake of Religion. He rejoices in 's English Universities, London, 1843, vol. ii., part 1, pp. 321, and most philosophical systems of intellectual education,from an intimate conviction that Truth is his real ally, as it is hisprofession; and that Knowledge and Reason are sure ministers being undeniable, it is plain that, when he suggests tothe Irish Hierarchy the establishment of a University , his firstand chief and direct object is, not science, art, professional skill,literature, the discovery of knowledge, but some benefit or other,to accrue, by means of literature and science, to his own children.

10 Not indeed their formation on any narrow or fantastic type, as,for instance, that of an English Gentleman may be called, buttheir exercise and growth in certain habits, moral or short of this can be his aim, if, as becomes the Suc-cessor of the Apostles, he is to be able to say with St. Paul, Non judicavi me scire aliquid inter vos, nisi Jesum Christum,et hunc crucifixum. Just as a commander wishes to have talland well-formed and vigorous soldiers, not from any abstractdevotion to the military standard of height or age, but for thepurposes of war, and no one thinks it any thing but natural and[xi]praiseworthy in him to be contemplating, not abstract qualities,but his own living and breathing men.