大学与象牙塔:实体与理念

University and ivory tower:entity and idea

大学与象牙塔在语言指称与意义联系方面存在着许多混乱,诸如大学为何被称为象牙塔、象牙塔有何蕴涵与意义、大学人对象牙塔有何情结。大学与象牙塔之间有着历史渊源,象牙塔是大学的精神家园。但在当代,象牙塔遭遇到了现实危机和重建派、走出派等不同的态度派别。其实,大学的象牙塔取向和向社会开放的取向之间并不存在必然冲突,而是可以互相促进的,这一点对于大学而言就意味着要走“内圣外王”之路。

There are many realistic and sensible problems between the word ＂university＂ and the word ＂ivory tower＂ on the relations of its linguistic symbol and real meaning. Such as why university is called ivory tower and what is the implication and significance of ivory tower. However there are historical relations between university and ivory tower. An ivory tower is a symbolization of the universities spirits. At present, ivory towers suffer some realistic crises and the confused cognitions caused partly by different schools; they are school of reconstruction and school of going-out. In fact, there are no necessary conflicts between constructing an ivory tower and opening to the outside. A university should get more prosperity outside through building itself inside.