The Idea of the University

In this eloquent and deeply personal book, an eminent scholar enters the debate over the crisis in university education. Drawing on his distinguished career as a teacher and administrator, Jaroslav Pelikan reflects on the character and aims of the university, assessing its practical functions, its guiding principles, and its role in society. Throughout, Pelikan offers sage observations on such issues as the inseparability of research and teaching; the "crisis of confidence" in higher education today; the place of intercollegiate athletics; and preservation of knowledge through university libraries, galleries, and museums.