A Study Of Modern German Universities In The19th Century And Their Relations With The Society And The State

Early German universities were originated in the medieval times. Influenced by the Renaissance, the religion reform and the Enlightenment, these traditional universities began to transform to the "modern universities" with the mutual replacement of "restrictions" and "freedom". As a result, universities bearing modern characteristics were established with University of Halle-Wittenberg and University of Gottingen as the representatives. German universities in this period created new views and demonstrated some new changes towards modernization in terms of teaching, which, catalyzed by the French Revolution and the Napoleon War, brought about the Reform of Prussian Universities. In1810, Wilhelm von Humboldt carried out a reform on the basis of inheriting desirable traditions, establishing the first modern university in German history-the Humboldt University of Berlin. He also put forward the "Five Principles of Science" and the "Three Principles of Education", which was later developed into the very significant Humboldt’s Thoughts on University. And it was under the guideline of this outlook that the Humboldt University of Berlin pioneered the "the Model of the Humboldt University of Berlin", which was very significant to the whole world. It endowed modern significance to universities on culture and institutional structure and so on.From1930s to the end of the19th century, the German society went through a "Double Revolution" in politics and economy, realizing unification and steeping into the age of industrial economy. As an important subsystem of German society, German universities inevitably interacted with the society.In the first thirty years of19th century, the development of German society imposed some influences on its higher education under reform. Firstly, German society posed new requirements on the Reform of German Universities and people from all walks of life in German endorsed this reform.Secondly, new trends of thought such as Rationalism of German Philosophy and New Humanism added vitality to the Reform of German Universities.Thirdly, the fierce competitions for talents among states promoted the Reform and the development of German society. Accordingly, the establishment and development of Modern German Universities can also promote the development of society. Modern German Universities were not only an important base for the rejuvenation of national spirit, but also a center of promoting national unification and freedom. Its development promoted the prosperity of German social economy, culture, education, science and technology, and won reputation from the world as well.From the middle of1930s to the end of19th century German witnessed two industrial revolutions, which led to tremendous changes in social economic structure and social stratum structure.The German finally established the industry-oriented economic structure in the process of industrialization."The expansion of cultural bourgeoisie","the rise of women" and etc. were demonstrations of the changes in German social stratum structure. The influences of these changes on the education of German universities fall into the following five categories:Firstly, industrialization provided strong material supports for university education, as a result, funds for scientific research and teachers’income greatly increased. Secondly, with the rapid development of industrialization, the German society required university education to be advanced and practical. Thirdly, industrialization changed the number of teachers and students in German universities. Fourthly, there was an obvious change of the background of university students during the period of German Empire. Fifth, these changes led to the adjustment of structure in German universities and new universities and colleges were set up. Modern German Universities and new universities and colleges also played their roles in the industrialization of German society. Firstly, Modern German Universities provided talented people and technology for industrial development. Secondly, scientific research and production were integrated to support industrialization of German. Thirdly, the focus of scientific research were put on chemistry industry and electrical industry, which served as motivation for the core departments in German industrialization. Fourthly, the thriving of German universities during the period of German Empire won further reputations for German from the world. Fifthly, the emerging new German universities and colleges provided technological supports for the development of industrialization.Some regular congnitions can get from the research on the relationships between German university education in the19th Century and social development, i.e. there are three types of relations between university education and social development, that is adapt to social development, synchronized with it and ahead of it. Meanwhile, although universities and society have interactions in each other, there also has a certain distance between them.The realization of Modern German Universities is deepened from another aspect by the discussion of the relationships between German universities in the19th Century and the Nation. German scholar Immanuel Kant, Wilhelm von Humboldt and Max Weber had their unique views on the relationship between the university and the Nation. Kant expounded the basic principles of how to deal with the relationship between universities and the Nation. Humboldt pointed out the rationality of country’s existence and the negative effects of its power, and he also restricted the range of country’s function. Weber discussed the changes of the relationships between German universities and the Nation under "Althoff System".During the Reform of Prussian Universities in the early19th Century, the relationships between German universities and the Nation were mainly guided by "the Notion of Cultural Country", forming a "Dual Management System" by the unique country management and the universities’ self-management. In this period, the German universities were an important component of the Nation and a carrier of the Nation’s interest. Meanwhile, the Nation was the economic pillar and founder of universities. It is also the supervisor of universities, the founder of university’s legal statue and the guarantee of universities’"Academic Freedom". The relationships between German university and the Nation in the middle of the19th Century didn’t essentially fluctuated but kept a dynamic balance.In this period, the Nation’s funds on university education increased and the right of academic freedom was ensured by the law. During the period of German Empire, under the effects of "Althoff System",the government’s policies penetrated the whole field of higher education and scientific policies, which on the one hand led to the grate supports of the Nation to the scientific research of German university, and on the other resulted in the government’s intervention and rule of men in university. The Nation’s intervention caused the qualitative changes of the connotation of German universities’ traditional "academic freedom".There are political professors and non-political professors in Modern German Universities. With the changes of politics in reality, the views of the political professors would change. When their statements and behavior fit the interests of the Nation’s development, they would be supported by the Nation. Otherwise, they would be suppressed. German university students performed their conscience and responsibilities for the society through various students’organizations, which was to some extent better for the concession of the ruling class after introspection. But when the student movements threatened the interest of the ruling class, they would be mercilessly suppressed.With the experience and lessons of Modern German Universities in the19th century and the status quo of modern Chinese universities, the author realize that a critical appreciation of Humboldt’s principles helps to establish a right outlook on the scientific research of universities. Meanwhile, the analysis of strengths and weaknesses of Modern German Universities institutions is beneficial to improve China’s modern university institutions.In addition, a fine interaction between universities and the society is one of the indispensible factors in promoting the development of modern higher education. Simultaneously whenever there is a change in national functioning, an appropriate adjustment of the relationship between the Nation and universities is also an important factor to guarantee and promote the development of modern universities.