Newman, Imagination, and The Idea of a University

In this article I argue that one way of approaching Newman’s Idea of a University is to view it as a text about the formation of imagination. This is done in three parts. First, I identify the core features of imagination as Newman conceived it by drawing on various sources from his life and work. Second, I turn to Idea of a University in particular, primarily the “Lectures on University Teaching,” to demonstrate that the concept of imagination is a significant underlying presence in Newman’s lectures. Finally, I conclude with a brief analysis of the relationship between reason and imagination within the university.