The Idea of a University

Since its publication almost 150 years ago, The Idea of a University has continued to engage readers with its timeless exploration of higher education. John Henry Newman raised significant issues, such as the place of religion and moral values in the university setting, the competing claims of liberal and professional education, the character of the academic community, the cultural role of literature, and the relation of religion and science. These topics have sparked discussion from Newman's time to our own.

This edition of The Idea of a University includes the full text of "University Teaching" and four selections from "University Subjects", along with five essays by leading scholars that delve into the background and present-day relevance of Newman's themes.

In the essays, Martha Garland discusses the character and organisation of the early 19th-century English universities upon which Newman based much of his vision. Frank M. Turner explores the impact of Newman's influence during the vast expansion of higher education since World War II. George Marsden investigates how the decreasing emphasis on religion has affected higher education. Sara Castro Klaren examines the implications of Newman's views on education and literature for current debates, especially between proponents of a curriculum based on western civilisation and one based on multiculturalism. George Landow considers what the advent of electronic communication will mean for university teaching, research, and community.

To aid accessibility, the edition also includes an analytical table of contents, a chronology and biographical sketch of Newman's life, questions for discussion, expanded notes, and a glossary of names, all of which help make this the standard teaching text of Newman's work.