Research On Newman's University Liberal Education Thought

John Henry Newman played a very important role in the history of higher education development. He was the first man to emphasize the important role of the liberal education. His book of The Idea of A University was the foundation of higher education development. In this book, the core thought is liberal education thought. But the research on the liberal education is not made too much. In this paper, the author will try to make this liberal education thought systematically, clearly and logically. The author thinks that more and more attention will be paid on this liberal education thought in the future.Liberal education is the education of people. Newman thought that liberal education was the intellect, reason and reflection operating activities for the aim of mental training, character cultivation and ration development, cultivation of rational people through liberal education. Excessive specialization of contemporary university education makes education as a tool for national and economic development. It has deviated from the goal of education for the development of human freedom. Faced by science-based university education situation, the author believes that the research on Newman's liberal education thought is very necessary.This article is made up by five parts:The first part is introduction, in which the author analyzes the research purpose, formerly related research findings both in home and abroad, the basic notion and the research methodology.In the second chapter, the author analyzes the foundation of the formation of the Newman liberal education thought. At first,the author introduces the biography of Newman, then analyzes the social factors which include the economical and political factors. Then introduces the argument between the liberal education thought and the vocational education thought. Finally, the author compares Newman's education thought and Humboldt's.In the third chapter, the author analyzes the liberal education thought, this part is the key part. At first, analyzes the definition of liberal education thought then analyzes the Newman's liberal education thought, and then the author explains the definition of Newman's liberal education thought, the aim of liberal education thought, the way of realizing the liberal education thought. Newman's university thought is the necessary part of his liberal education thought. His university thought includes the definition of university, the aim of university, the function of university, the content of teaching and the ways of teaching. Finally, analyzes the relationship between the liberal education and vocational education. This part is the necessary part of Newman's liberal education thought. In this part, the author explains Newman's liberal education thought from another aspect, which is on the aspect of the relationship between liberal education thought and vocational education in order to make a full explanation of liberal education thought. To begin with, analyzes three aspects to explain the relationship between the liberal education thought and vocational education thought, and then sums up the implications of Newman's commentary on the relationship between the liberal education thought and vocational education thought.In the fourth chapter, the author analyzes the modern sense of Newman's liberal education thought and thinks about the limitations of Newman's liberal education thought. Under the professional university education background, Newman's liberal education thought can be drawn.