蔡元培对德国大学理念的接受——基于译文《德意志大学之特色》的讨论

On Cai Yuanpei's Reception of German University Ideology:Based on Cai's Translation of"The Features of German University"

蔡元培的大学思想受到德国大学理念的影响,这是公论。但蔡元培系统了解德国大学观念的资料来源并不清楚。本文对照德文原文,分析了蔡元培所翻译的包尔生的《德意志大学之特色》一文,得出如下结论:一、包尔生的这一文章是蔡元培系统了解德国的大学历史与观念之始;二、文中关于德国大学及其特色,特别是大学为决定国家民族命运之关键的论述,对蔡元培影响至深,成为他日后大学理念的基础。

It is generally accepted that Cai Yuanpei's thoughts on university have been influ- enced by German University Ideology.But there is no evidence showing how Cai ac- quired his systematical knowledge of German university.Basing on the German ver- sion of Paulsen's book,the paper makes an analysis on Cai's translation of'The Fea- tures of German University'and comes to the following conclusions.First,Paulsen's work initiated Cai's comprehensive knowledge and perception of German university history.Second,features of German university in Paulsen's work,especially the ar- gumentation of university being the key to national destiny,have laid a foundation to Cai's thoughts on university.