大学教育的根基是超越性的抑或内在于世的?——论沃格林对洪堡大学教育理念的批评

Transcendence or Inner Bing as the Foundation of Human Existence?On Voegelin’s Critique of Wilhelm von Humboldt’s Ideas on Higher Education

洪堡的大学教育思想强调人的自主性及内在力量,对这一观点提出批评的沃格林认为,洪堡的这一教育思想实质上是对超越性存在根基的疏离,将人自身作为根基会导致精神的自我封闭而非开放,如此的大学教育会给个体和社会带来严重的精神失序。洪堡与沃格林争执的焦点在于如何看待存在根基的性质。洪堡否定超越性的存在根基,认为存在根基是内在于世的,并由此认定个体内在力量的成熟而生发的自主性是大学教育的最高目的。沃格林则坚持存在根基的超越性,认为人性本质存在于对这种根基张力的体验和参与中。检审双方各自的理由,沃格林对洪堡的批评本身值得深思,亦可给当下大学教育带来重要启示。

Eric Voegelin(1901-1985)disagreed with Wilhelm von Humboldt’s ideas of higher education,because the latter prioritized inner being over transcendence as the foundation of human existence.According to Voegelin,Humboldt’s overemphasis on humans per se will lead to the closing rather than opening of our mind and turn our personal lives as well as the whole society into a mess.Humboldt denied the vital importance of transcendence.Instead,he maintained that humans just exist in this world,and cultivating autonomy,which can be gained through inner growth and improvement,is the ultimate goal of higher education.On the other hand,Voegelin insisted on transcendence as the foundation of human existence and argued that we are living under constant tension between transcendence and inner being.Voegelin’s critique of Humboldt’s ideas of higher education is compelling and thought provoking.It also has implications for our higher education today.