'The mediaeval university looked backwards: it professed to be a storehouse of old knowledge... The modern university looks forward: it is a factory of new knowledge'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Modern universities create new knowledge while medieval ones preserved old knowledge.
- In plain terms
- Old schools taught past facts; new schools make new facts.
- What can you take from it?
- Education should focus on creation not just preservation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is the goal of education today?
- Do we value old or new knowledge more?
Another view
It downplays the value of preserving established knowledge.
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