The Argument For Abraham Flexner's Academic View On Modern University

Abraham Flexner (b.Nov.13,1866,Kentuchy,U.S.—d.Sept.21,1959,NewYork) was American educator and reformer of higher education, who criticized over-specia- lization of higher education and sought to resolve the problems of American universities and colleges and maintain the pursuit of excellence on learning in higher education.The dissertation focuses on Flexner′s academic thought of modern university.By analyzing the background of its formation and its philosophical foundation and elaborating his learning experiences and teaching practice, the thesis probes into his academic thought of modern university, finds out its content factually and reveals the value of his thought. At the same time, the author hopes to provide the development of research universities in China with lessons and experience by studying Flexner′s academic thought of modern university.The thesis is divided into four parts.The first part analyzes the background of formation and philosophical foundation of Flexner′s academic view on modern university. The author believes that his academic view was deeply influenced by the social background and cultural context at that time; the rationalism philosophy, the scientism and the humanism was the philosophical foundation of his university academic view.The second part elaborates Flexner′s learning experiences and education practice process. His educational background includes two stages: early education and college education. His education practice background includes founding preparatory school, medicine education reform practice, higher education inspection and founding advanced institute. The author believes that his learning experiences and education practice was the fountain-head which his academic view on modern university formedThe third part mainly elaborates main content of Flexner′s academic view on modern university, which includes: the modern university must conduct the true academic research and the pursuit of excellence is its academic mission; the modern university ought to pay great attention to the exploration of the "useless" knowledge, choose the excellent academic talents, persist the serious academic spirit and creates the free academic environment; the modern university must adopt the reasonable measures to train ideal academic talented persons. His modern university academic view has the intrinsic value as well as the certain limitation.The fourth part has revealed the value of Flexner′s academic view on modern university to research universities by relating to the actual problems of the universities in China.