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John Henry Newman sets out to defend the idea of Liberal (when I say "liberal" it is in the sense of a Liberal Arts degree)University for the training of young men. (His book is aimed at men and for the purpose of men... I dont know if the education of women at that time was still frowned upon). Within a series of nine discourses (which he initially delivered at the inaugural year of the University in Ireland)he sets out to defend his picture of what a University education should look like. Newman's arguments are logical and well defended with the arguments building, like a tower is built, upon one another. Each discourse takes up a specific thesis and is defended in the following pages.

He first demonstrates that Truth is One, that is composed of one overarching, interrelated matrix. There are many systems of thought that are a play, but nonetheless, all Truth is delicately intertwined so that if you neglect one aspect of the Truth in essence you are unraveling the binds that tie that Truth together. You can study science or economics or literature or theology or any branch of knowledge whatsoever and that which is true in that branch is related in degrees to all branches of knowledge.

Theology, then, is necessary to the University since the University is supposed to teach "universal" knowledge, that is, all possible fields of knowledge. He argues that for a University to neglect any form of knowledge is to be oppressive and arrogant in its view of what knowledge consists. Has not religion and the ideas of 'god(s)' permeated the world since the beginning of time? Because truth is one and theology is a branch of knowledge (Newman argues the highest)then the University must teach Theology in order to fulfill its purpose of teaching Universal knowledge.

Should knowledge be gained for knowledge sake (philosophy) or should knowledge be gained for its use (utility)? Newman argues that knowledge is an end in itself not simply an means to an end as most would argue. He likes the health of the mind to the health of the body. No human treats his body well through exercise and right diet in order that they may use the body for another task (though a healthy body allows for use), rather the health of the body is the end itself, so also the health of the mind. We gain knowledge not simply to be able to make ourselves richer or more powerful (though those things can happen when the mind is healthy) we gain knowledge to deepen our understanding of Truth and its interrelatedness to all of life. He calls this "enlightenment."

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