Fides Quaerens Intellectum

A fair portion of my Ph.D. dissertation is on the history of higher education in the United States.  In my research I came across the Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon’s account of the College of New Jersey (e.g., Princeton) where he served as president beginning in 1768.  Given my roles at the Chick-fil-A sponsored IMPACT 360 (www.impact360.net) program, Union University (www.uu.edu, where I serve as a visiting professor of philosophy) as well as my new role on the Board of Trustees at my alma mater, the Scottish-namesake institution Erskine College (www.erskine.edu) and Seminary (http://www.erskineseminary.org/), Dr. Witherspoon’s thoughts are particularly apropos.  Of the purposes of education, the Scottish Presbyterian minister remarked that

“It promotes virtue and happiness, as well as arts and industry.  On this, as on the former, it is unnecessary to enlarge; only suffer me to make a remark, not quite so common, that, if there is any just comparison on the subject, the children of persons in the higher ranks of life, and, especially, of those who by their own activity and diligence, rise to opulence, have of all others the greatest need of an early, prudent and well conducted education.  The wealth to which they are born becomes often a dangerous temptation, and the station in which they enter upon life, requires such duties, as those of the finest talents can scarcely be supposed capable of, unless they have been improved and cultivated with the utmost care.  Experience shews the use of a liberal Education in both these views.  It is generally a preservative from vices of a certain class, by giving easy access to more refined pleasures, and inspiring the mind with an abhorrence of low riot and contempt for brutal conversation.  It is also of acknowledged necessity to those who do not wish to live for themselves alone, but would apply their talents to the service of the public and the good of mankind.  Education is therefore of equal importance in order either to enjoy life with dignity and elegance, or imploy it to the benefit of society, in offices of power or trust.”

Source:  Address to the Inhabitants of Jamaica, and Other West-India Islands in Behalf of the College of New Jersey (Philadelphia, 1772).  In Richard Hofstadter and Wilson Smith (eds), American Higher Education:  A Documentary History vol. I (Chicago:  University of Chicago Press):  137-138.