Movement for a Free Academia—literature database
Movement for a Free Academia—literature database |
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von Humboldt, W. (1810). Wilhelm von Humboldt's treatise "On the internal and external organization of the higher scientific institutions in Berlin". Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard (14/04/2024, 19:39) Last edited by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard (17/04/2024, 05:56) |
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| Resource type: Miscellaneous Language: en: English Published BibTeX citation key: vonHumboldt1810 Email resource to friend View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Academic freedom, Universities, Universities and society Creators: von Humboldt |
Views: 1/597
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This is an English translation of the treatise. On the website, the treatise is prefaced with:
"Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835), a renowned philosopher, scholar, and linguist, and the minister responsible for educational reform in Prussia, oversaw the planning and opening of the innovative University of Berlin in 1810. This text reflects the spirit that animated Humboldt’s conception of knowledge [Wissenschaft] and its pursuit in the scholarly community of the university. Though also essential to the state and the nation, knowledge was now conceived of as an end in itself. The idea now known as “academic freedom” finds expression in this piece, though Humboldt accorded the state a major role in professorial and other university appointments." |
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p. 1
The opening statement: "The notion of the higher scientific institutions, as the pinnacle where everything that happens directly for the moral culture of the nation comes together, is based on the idea that they are destined to work on science in the deepest and broadest sense of the word, and hand it over as subject matter to be used by intellectual and moral education, suitably prepared for this purpose, not intentionally so but by itself."
Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
(16/04/2024, 15:40)
Comments:
The last part (intenionality) is interesting in the context of universities becoming the playthings of commercial and political interests.
Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
(16/04/2024, 15:40)
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p. 2
"It must thus always remain conscious that it is not really bringing this about [i.e., a 'lively and robust' university life], nor is it able to do so, indeed, that it is always an impediment as soon as it interferes, that the matter itself would proceed infinitely better without it"
Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
(16/04/2024, 15:42)
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p. 3
"This having been said, one can readily see that when it comes to the internal organization of the higher scientific institutions, everything depends on preserving the principle of seeing science as something that has not been and can never be entirely found, and to constantly pursue it as such."
Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
(16/04/2024, 15:44)
Comments:
But . . . how is the manager to measure impact every couple of years or less?
Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
(16/04/2024, 15:44)
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