Osnovna je tema ovoga rada moderna ideja sveučilišta, koja se uobičajeno povezuje s djelovanjem Wilhelma von Humboldta i osnivanjem sveučilišta u Berlinu. Cilj je rada sagledati filozofijske temelje na kojima je ona izgrađena, kao i kritički razmotriti uzroke zagovora nove ideje sveučilišta naspram postojećeg srednjovjekovnog modela visokog obrazovanja. Od mnogih doprinosa, izdvojeni su radovi Kanta, Fichtea i Schleiermachera koji se sagledavaju pod vidom njihova utjecaja na formiranje pojedinih aspekata moderne ideje sveučilišta. Iako navedeni autori postižu suglasnost oko osnovnih ciljeva novoga sveučilišta, nisu suglasni u svim aspektima praktične realizacije. The main theme of this paper is the modern idea of the university, which is commonly associated with the work of Wilhelm von Humboldt and the founding of the university in Berlin. The aim of the paper is to examine the philosophical foundations on which it was built, as well as to critically reflect on the causes for advocating the new idea of the university against the existing medieval model of higher education. Among the many contributions, the works of Kant, Fichte and Schleiermacher were selected and examined in view of their influence on the formation of certain aspects of the modern idea of the university. Although the mentioned authors agreed on the basic objectives of the new university, they did not agree on all aspects of practical realization.