Research On Edward Shils' Thoughts In Higher Education

Edward Shils, who was one of the founder members and played a part in the Committee on Social Thought, is now regarded as a famous contemporary sociologist in the USA. In most of his life he took the academic position in both England and the USA, and he was interested in communicating and connecting the social thoughts between Europe and America by translating,editing and writing. He would write much about tradition. As a sociologist, Shils was more German-oriented, so was in the higher education. He firmly stood by the German research-oriented university. With the expansion and diversification of American higher education, his insisting of the tradition and spirit in the university was not supported by the public. But the systematical study of his thoughts in higher education is of profound significance. It will enrich the theory of higher education and improve the development of Chinese university. The study tries to present shils'thoughts in four parts:First, it introduced the theoretical and practical significance of the study, and then gave an overview and information related to Shils and his study.Second, it introduced Edward Shils'life and the academic career, including his academic interesting and achievement in sociology and higher education.Third, it presented his thoughts of higher education and the historical origins by analyzing some document, including The Order of Learning, which is the most important.Five parts consist the main body of the study: Historical background, Mission of university: pursuiting of truth, Scholar's academic occupation, Solitude and freedom, Focus on academic policies.Forth, it discussed the importance of tradition to the university development, especially to the development of Chinese higher education.