The Relationship Of Berlin University Between Academic Freedom And Statism

Quite a lot of studies in the academic field have been devoted toacademic freedom of Berlin University, almost all of them uniformly focuson what substance it is and what meaning it contributes to modern history.There is---to my knowledge---not a single scholarly article that paysattention to the statism feature of Berlin University, neither the relationshipbetween academic freedom and statism. This paper tries to apply thetheories of academic freedom and statism to interpret the statist feature ofBerlin University and reveal the dilemma and destiny of academic freedomconfronting with statism.This paper clarifies succinctly the theories of academic freedom andstatism. Academic freedom means students enjoythe freedom of teaching,learning and study, they do not be disturbed by the unreasonable externalfactors in pursuit of truth. Academic freedom is the prerequisite for pursuingthe truth, guaranteeing the academic purity and realizing the brilliance ofuniversity. Statism takes the abstract concept of state and patriotism as theideology, advocates strengthening the state machinery; statism always takesthe coat of nationalism. The rising and expansion of nation-state is thenatural goal of statism. In theory, academic freedom and statism couldcoexist harmoniously, however, the instinct of statism is prone to interferethe affairs of university. Statism infringes upon the academic freedom is anaction that the power obstructs the weak.The foundation of Berlin University was the consequence of reciprocalfunction among Germany social and historical situations. In the process offoundation, previously existent university and humanism in German offeredthe ideological bases for academic freedom, the rising of nationalism andstatism both reinforced the control of state upon the university and providedeffective space for the development of academic freedom. Meanwhile, theacademic took the feature of statism because of these social situations. InNapoleon era, the failure of Prussian-France war led to the foundation ofBerlin University directly, however, because of failure of war, the vital...