Is a Catholic University a Good 'Idea'? Reflections on Catholic Higher Education from a Newmanian Perspective

This article reflects on John Henry Newman's discussion of the 'idea' of a Catholic university and situates his thought in this regard against the background of his understanding of the development of 'ideas' in general. For Newman, an idea, to be 'real,' must find expression in history and culture which, in turn, shape the particular expressions of the idea. What unites these expressions is their claim to represent the original 'idea'; what distinguishes them is the degree of their approximation to that same 'idea.' The application of these insights throws light on Newman's approach to the Catholic university as a place where all knowledge, including religious knowledge, is pursued for its own sake, and his conviction that a Catholic university 'distinguishes' itself by the depth of its commitment to this principle.