The core values of medieval universities

In writing my article Towards a Christian vision for the modern secular university, I was helped by a nice paper by Professor David Ford of Cambridge. “Faith and Universities in a Religious and Secular World.”  Ford recounts how Walter Ruegg, the editor of the definitive four-volume A History of the University in Europe noted that the medieval university was defined by seven core values.

1. God is creator of an ordered world that is accessible to human reason;    

 2. human imperfection; this impelled intellectual criticism and collegial cooperation.

 3. humanity is made in the image of God; this laid the foundation for academic freedom.

 4. the appropriateness of public argument and discussion to the absoluteness of scientific truth;  

 5. scientific and scholarly knowledge as a public good transcending any economic advantage it might bring;  

 6. the cumulative and self-correcting process of the growth of knowledge  

7. the equality and solidarity of those committed to the pursuit of knowledge

Three things I find striking. First, how these values are deeply rooted in Christian theology. Second, that these values are the basis for good universities today, even if they are completely secular.
Finally, these values are being steadily eroded in universities today, particularly 5.