This book is about the idea of the university in modern Germany. Its primary focus is how the Humboldtian tradition was transformed and how it gave direction to debates around higher education. By combining approaches from intellectual history, conceptual history and the history of knowledge, the study investigates the ways in which Humboldts ideas have been appropriated for various purposes in different historical contexts and epochs. Ultimately, it shows that Humboldts ideals are not timeless they are historical phenomena and have always been determined by the predicaments and issues of the day. Nevertheless, many of the key concepts and fundamental ideas have endured throughout the twentieth century, though they have been interpreted in different ways.

Johan Östling is Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in History at Lund University, Sweden

Prologue: Unter den Linden 6 1 The history of the university 2 Wilhelm von Humboldt and his idea 3 The discovery of Humboldt 4 The rebirth of the university 5 Tradition under debate 6 From Berlin to Bologna Bibliography Index