Three Ideas of the University

Abstract

The term “idea” was used in history of thought in three main meanings: Plato’s ei­dos; transcendental ides of pure reason in Kants first “Kritik”; and understanding of simple and complicated ideas in the Empiricism of Modernity. Each of these in­terpretations is in correlation with definite seeing of the University, as well as of the place of Philosophy in it. The medieval University inherited from antiquity the ideal of Paideia, realized by the liberal arts, having their summit in Philosophy, paving the way to Theology. Through the ages this ideal rests in some of the An­glo-Saxon universities with their system of education of the elite by means of lib­eral arts, The second model incarnated in the projects of the reforms in the begin­ning of the XIXth Century is associated today with the name of W. von Humboldt. University is a place of Socratic dialogue of the successful scientist with his future collegue, education goes hand by hand with investigation. The mass university of the last decades is directed by Empiricism and Pragmatism, oriented to the max­imization of social utility and benefits for the University itself. It is now a corpora­tion among other corporations, providing specialist and experts for them. If there is a need for Philosophy in such University, it appears as a way of rescue from all metaphysical illusions, liberal arts reduced to such offspring of “postmodern” as gender and postcolonial studies.