The discovery of public space: V. fon Humboldt

Thisarticle continues the theme of the formation of public space in Europe, XVIII century and itsinterpretation in the German intellectual tradition. The beginning of this research - in the article "Tothe distinction of private and public application of reason in I.Kant" (see "Journal of Tomsk StateUniversity. Philosophy. Sociology. Political Science» № 4 (12) 2010). This article analyzes the viewsof the German thinker V.fon Humboldt. The analysis is based on two works V.fon Humboldt, "On theinternal and external organization of higher academic institutions in Berlin" and "On the limits of stateactivity." The article describes, first, public space as a purely "intellectual". The subject of specialconsideration here are the relationship of university and state. Also hypothesized about the specialsignificance of "public opinion" as an arbiter of different mechanisms of selection of scientists: theappointment of university professors and state, the choice of its members academies and a freepresentation of his ideas to the public lecturer. he article also examines the public space as a "social"one. Particular attention is paid to critique V.fon Humboldt harmful effects and errors of state activity.The article cataloged such effects: the spirit of uniformity, the weakening of the forces of the nation,weakening of social bonds, ignoring the minority and the individual, the mechanical nature of theactivity. In the conclusion of the article compares the views of Kant and Humboldt V.fon: 1)Regarding the relation of "freedom of thought" and "freedom of action"; 2) Regarding the relationshipbetween person and the state; 3) With regard to the ontological and ethical status of the "general will";4) On the question of the applicability of the values of "reasonableness" and education" to thegovernment, namely the activities of the monarch and public officials; 5) The function of "publicopinion" and its definition as a reasonable opinion and educated people.

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