The Idea of a University Defined and Illustrated: In Nine Discourses Delivered to the Catholics of DublinNewman, John Henry
Religion
The Idea of a University Defined and Illustrated: In Nine Discourses Delivered to the Catholics of Dublin
Newman, John Henry
Education, Higher; Universities and colleges
If then, Gentlemen, I now resist such a course of acting as
unphilosophical, what is this but to do as men of Science do when the
interests of their own respective pursuits are at stake? If they certainly
would resist the divine who determined the orbit of Jupiter by the
Pentateuch, why am I to be accused of cowardice or illiberality, because I
will not tolerate their attempt in turn to theologize by means of
astronomy? And if experimentalists would be sure to cry out, did I attempt
to install the Thomist philosophy in the schools of astronomy and
medicine, why may not I, when Divine Science is ostracized, and La Place,
or Buffon, or Humboldt, sits down in its chair, why may not I fairly
protest against their exclusiveness, and demand the emancipation of
Theology?
15.
And now I consider I have said enough in proof of the first point, which I
undertook to maintain, viz., the claim of Theology to be represented among
the Chairs of a University. I have shown, I think, that exclusiveness
really attaches, not to those who support that claim, but to those who
dispute it. I have argued in its behalf, first, from the consideration
that, whereas it is the very profession of a University to teach all
sciences, on this account it cannot exclude Theology without being untrue
to its profession. Next, I have said that, all sciences being connected
together, and having bearings one on another, it is impossible to teach
them all thoroughly, unless they all are taken into account, and Theology
among them. Moreover, I have insisted on the important influence, which
Theology in matter of fact does and must exercise over a great variety of
sciences, completing and correcting them; so that, granting it to be a
real science occupied upon truth, it cannot be omitted without great
prejudice to the teaching of the rest. And lastly, I have urged that,
supposing Theology be not taught, its province will not simply be
neglected, but will be actually usurped by other sciences, which will
teach, without warrant, conclusions of their own in a subject-matter which
needs its own proper principles for its due formation and disposition.
Abstract statements are always unsatisfactory; these, as I have already
observed, could be illustrated at far greater length than the time
allotted to me for the purpose has allowed. Let me hope that I have said
enough upon the subject to suggest thoughts, which those who take an
interest in it may pursue for themselves.
Discourse V.
Knowledge Its Own End.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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