256 ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN GERMAN UNIVERSITIES. 



ments it is forbidden to suspect motives or indulge in 

 abuse of the personal qualities of our opponents, so 

 also is any incitement to such acts as are legally for- 

 bidden. But there is no obstacle to the discussion of 

 a scientific question in a scientific spirit. In English 

 and French Universities there is less idea of liberty of 

 teaching in this sense. Even in the College de France 

 the lectures of a man of Kenan's scientific impor- 

 tance and earnestness are forbidden. 



I have to speak of another aspect of our liberty of 

 teaching. That is, the extended sense in which Ger- 

 man Universities have admitted teachers. In the 

 original meaning of the word, a doctor is a ' teacher,' or 

 one whose capacity as teacher is recognised. In the 

 Universities of the Middle Ages any doctor who found 

 pupils could set up as teacher. In course of time the 

 practical signification of the title was changed. Most 

 of those who sought the title did not intend to act as 

 teachers, but only needed it as an official recognition 

 of their scientific training. Only in Germany are 

 there any remains of this ancient right. In accord- 

 ance with the altered meaning of the title of doctor, 

 and the minuter specialisation of the subjects of in- 

 struction, a special proof of more profound scientific 

 proficiency, in the particular branch in which they wish 

 to habilitate, is required from those doctors who desire 

 to exercise the right of teaching. In most German 



