A Comparative Analysis of Classical and Postmodern Views on the Idea of a University

Abstract

Background: The crisis that the modern university is experiencing today, is conditioned by the crisis of its idea as of a classicalessence. The idea of university was formulated by W. von Humboldt, however, its history starts with the Greek-Roman era whenthe ancient philosophy in its cognitive attitude to the world saw its truth, leaning on intelligence that brought it to the harmony ofbeauty and good. In this quality, the idea of university was changing the university history. However, today, by rejecting anynatural unity and integrity and also reconsidering classics, the postmodern views diversify the classical university and eliminatethe possibility of its common form. Questions arise: can the common idea for the university be preserved in these conditions?Will it be preserved (and should it be preserved) by the postmodern culture? Is it possible today to have the unity of theuniversity as a classical social and educational institution? Do modern university models (entrepreneurial, corporate, research,etc.) have their own idea? Methods: The purpose of this article is to search for differences between the modern and classicaluniversities. The comparative method is used. Results: Distinctive characteristics (peculiarities) of the modern university havebeen discovered and described. Conclusions: A conclusion is drawn that there are transformations of the modern university formsin accordance with the conditions of the modern culture.