Newman's usage of the term 'the idea of a university' in his 1853 publication is often cited as the origin of the concept, which has changed over time to 'the idea of the university'. Von Humboldt's establishment of the University of Berlin in 1811 has an idea of a university embedded in it even if the term itself is not used.
I'm interested to find out specifically if there was anyone who used this or a similar term (the idea of a/the university) in a published work before 1800 NOT about the history of the university (which I have already researched). Thanks.
The "idea of university" is a mythos, which has been subsequently assigned to Humboldt in the second half of the 19th and the 20th century. However there existed before Humboldt a special state of universities (which were originally institutions of in-service for theologians in high positions of the Catholic Church, approved by the pope). This included that also the European university of the Middle Age with the four faculties (theology, law, medicine, "artes liberales" / philosopy) had an own protected legal sphere without access possibility of the state, andit included self-government. Later and also in the countries with Lutheran or Calvin Churches, universities became institutions of the state, but the idea of common teaching and learning of professors and students remained relatively unchanged.
Prussia lost after the defeat against Napoleon his most famous University of Halle, there remained Prussia only the distant University of Königsberg and the trivial University of Frankfort (Prov. Brandenburg); Breslau in Silesia had only a Catholic Faculty and was unified with Frankfort-University 1811. In general the higher education had a very low level in the beginning of 19th century, more ever was this the case after the lost war 1806, against Napoleon, and then under French military occupation. So Humboldt, who worked only for 10 months at the ministry in Berlin proposed the Prussian King Wilhelm III. 1809 in a matter-of-bad-facts-application to found a new university at Berlin.
In some other papers Humboldt made short hints about the task and the spirit of higher teaching and learning. He used the terminus "pure science" (reine Wissenschaft) as subject-matter of the university. Also Humboldt's famous words about "Bildung" and the autonomous individual were not part of any published essay, but part of a private letter (1795).
So let me sum up: It could be that long before Humboldt the terminus "idea of university" has shown up anywhere, but this was and is not at all relevant for the interpretation of this terminus today or at the end of the 19th century, when German universities flourished in Europe. However, if it is actually a fact (I don't know), that somebody used the terminus long after Humboldt, then he was supposedly glorified. Humboldt was liberal noble with progressive ideas, he was not a revolutionary man (he observed the revolution with a pupil 1789 at Pris). The liberal idea of Humboldt, for instance that university could be an institution of freedom and equality of teaching and learning people, was a part of his liberal thinking, but afterwards this was bound also with much over-interpretations of Better-Humboldts'. If needed I can deliver some German references.
Please see this link
https://www.britannica.com/topic/university
Evidence of concept of University was traced long back in Aryan civilization in later vedic period. Nalanda University, Takshasila university are some of the renouned university during that time. The Sanskrit word 'Visva-Bharati' probably most nearest meaning of modern days university concept. Tagore's concept of University is also same line with Humboldt.
Yes, Dr. Lahiri is correct.
NALANDA MAJAVIDYALAYA (Ruins found in Bihar, India) is the oldest University of the world.
Every academicians should read information about that University from WIKIPEDIA.
I am surprised by the amount of information available on this topic.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?&q=%22the+idea+of+a+university%22
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