Science in the Finnish Society – past and present

ENRIO, Helsinki11.9.2012

Jussi Nuorteva

Studium generale – universal university

• Medieval universities (studia generale) were international by definition

• Ius ubique docendi – universal recognition of degrees and right to teach at any university

• Latin was universal language of both the church and the universities

• Universe was understood as a definite creation of God without change

• Hierarchical structures based on aristotelian philosphy

• Science was descriptive not creative or dynamic

• Societal structures were as well seen basically unchanging

Static world-view

University education of Finns in the Middle Ages

• First Finnish students mentioned in the records of the University of Paris 1313

• 150 Finnish students with studies at foreign universities in the Middle Ages known by name

• All the bishops, prelates and chanons of the Chapter of Turku had studied at least two years abroad

• Most of the curators of the parish churches had studied abroad

• Dominicans and Franciscans had own educational systems equivalent to the universities

• International influences came directly from the ”sites” during the Middle Ages and Reformation (Paris, Rome, Prague, Leipzig, Louvain, Wittenberg)

”May God help that this Academia Aboensis would once be hailed as

the ancient schools of Athens; that it would match Wittenberg, Helmstedt

and Rostock in theology, that it would level Marburg, Altdorf, Leipzig and Jena in laws and that it would be

equal to Padova, Freiburg, Strasbourg and Paris in medicine”

Inaugural speach of professor Michael Wexionius at the opening of the university

15th July 1640

SEAL OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY (UNIVERSITY)

OF TURKU

International university?• Number of enrollments 1640–1720 about 5 400• Number of foreign students 14 (at Uppsala

university 186)• Number of Finnnish students was in average 73 %

during the end of 17th Century, the remaining came from Sweden and Baltic provinces

• All the professors came from Sweden and Finland• 70 % of the Swedish professors had studied

abroad, but only 22 % of the Finnish• Only 17 Finns studied at the universities of Rostock

and Wittenberg 1640– 1719 compared to 105 in 1540–1639

• Universality of the science decreased after founding of the first university in Finland in 1640

• Change in the 18th century through empirism, utilitarism and Linnean natural sciences

”A good Swedish man with decent education and experience from

abroad would be most suitable, as here is little or no use of those who

are born here, who have studied only at the local school and university and hardly know world beyond the Castle

and Dome of Turku.”

Considerations of Vice-Chancellor, Bishop Johannes Gezelius sr. in a letter to Chancellor,

Count Per Brahe about filling a chair in 1667

Johannes Gezelius sr (1615 – 1690)

Dissemination of knowledge• Suomalaiset Tieto-Sanomat [first newspaper in Finnish] 1775• Scientific societies:

- Societas pro Fauna et Flora Fennica 1821- Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura [Finnish Literature Society] 1831- Finnish Society of Doctors of Medicine 1835- Finska Vetenskapssocieten – Finnish Science Society 1838- Vetenskapliga Samfundens Delegation – Delegation of Scientific Societies 1899

• Antero Warelius, Enon opetuksia luonnon asioista I-II, 1855-56; upplysningsböcker och småtryck till allmogen

• Kansanvalistusseura [Society of public information] 1874• Popular science magazines from early 1900’s:

- Luonto tieteen valossa (Nature in the light of science) 1908 – 1911- Tiede ja elämä (Science and life) 1919 – 1924- Valo – tiedettä kaikille (Light – science for all) 1925 – 1928

Education, innovation and social rise • Utilitarian thinking – popular books on science for the

common people in the 18th century• Common literacy in 1770’s – religious movements• Libraries and reading societies start to develop• Nationalistic ideals support education and science• Act on public schools 1866 • Quick diffusion of technological innovations in the society

(electricity, telephones etc.)• Strong democratic institutions (The Parliament Act 1906 –

19 women elected) and active civil society organisations• Strong emphasis on education as a way to social rise• Small social differentiation• Active participation of women in the society and education

(29 % of students in Helsinki 1918-20, 51 % in 1954-56)

Higher education in Finland 1900 -2000

Year Universities Students Professors

1900 1 1 208 511935 7 8 351 2241950 9 14 414 3411960 11 23 552 4771970 15 57 851 1 0701980 17 84 187 1 4701990 17 110 680 1 8022000 17 157 796 2 106

Women had access to the university since 1870’s.

Arto Nevala in Research in Finland. A History. 2006.