exist Latin American philosophers Outstanding who have contributed importantly with their theories, reflections and knowledge to the world of philosophy.
Philosophical activity in Latin America has historically been characterized by tremendous diversity in its approach to study and practice. In general, Latin Americans have been attentive to philosophical developments in the rest of the world and, over the years, have adopted different philosophical positions: progressive as conservative, both pragmatic and idealistic, materialistic and spiritualistic [1] .
There are constant interests and projects in Latin America due to the active and diverse practice of philosophy, popular interest, sometimes government promotion, cultural awareness of what happens on other continents, and widespread hope in education as the key to the development.
European philosophical influence was crucial during the twentieth century, due in large part to the arrival of Spanish philosophers exiled after the fall of the Republic. The teachings of the Spanish philosopher Ortega y Gasset, for example, were an important element in the formation of Latin American philosophical reflections [2] .
European philosophical currents adapted to the Latin American reality through a process of self-examination (What condition of thought or being is unique to Latin America?).
Areas of philosophical study such as cultural identity, feminist thinking, the philosophy of liberation and Marxism are closely connected with Latin American philosophical thinking [3] .
Who were and are the main Latin American philosophers?
1-Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1695)
Mexican thinker, representative of the current humanist and first philosopher in questioning the condition of women within Latin American society.
2- Andrés Bello (1781-1865)
Philosopher and Venezuelan politician, considered one of the most important humanists in Latin America. He was Simon Bolivar's teacher and took part in the process that would culminate in Venezuelan independence.
3- Juan Bautista Alberdi (1810-1884)
He was an Argentine intellectual, artist and philosopher. He is considered the intellectual author of the Argentine Constitution of 1853. Founder of the Generation of '37, intellectual current adhering to liberal democracy.
4- Justo Sierra (1848-1912)
Intellectual Mexican, architect of the foundation of the National University of Mexico (now National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM).
Called the"Master of America", title granted by several Latin American universities. One of the most influential thinkers in the modern history of Mexico.
5 - José Martí (1854-1895)
Writer, thinker and Cuban philosopher who led the Cuban War of Independence. Its influence was modernist and liberal currents.
6- Francisco Romero (1891-1962)
He started the"generation of founders", which brought together philosophers active around 1910 and who were formed in positivism, who finally rebelled. He was born in Seville but emigrated to Argentina at an early age and it was there that he carried out his philosophical work.
In 1940 he proposed the term"philosophical normality"in naming the"exercise of philosophy as an ordinary function of culture"in Latin America.
7- Alejandro Korn (1860-1936)
Argentine physician, politician and philosopher. Considered the initiator of philosophical thought in Argentina and one of the"five wise men"of the city of La Plata. His reflections were oriented to the study of values and freedom. Author of"The creative freedom"in 1922.
8- José Vasconcelos (1882-1959)
Mexican lawyer, politician and philosopher. He became the first Secretary of Public Education in his country. Honored as Doctor Honoris Causa by the National University of Mexico, Chile and Guatemala. His philosophy encompasses the fields of metaphysics, aesthetics and the philosophy of the Mexican.
9- Antonio Caso (1883-1946)
Christian Mexican philosopher, founder together with Vasconcelos of the Ateneo de la Juventud, humanist group in opposition to the positivism under which it was formed. Author of"The problem of Mexico and the national ideology"in 1924.
10- Carlos Astrada (1894-1970)
Argentine philosopher, academician of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Buenos Aires. Member of the Peronist movement, he was exiled during the dictatorship of Pedro Eugenio Aramburu.
11- Samuel Ramos (1897-1959)
Philosopher and Mexican academic, member of the National College. His texts on the identity and psychology of the Mexican are referring in the philosophy of that country.
12- Alberto Wagner de Reyna (1915-2006)
Born in Peru, he dedicated his life to the service of Peruvian culture and foreign policy. He is one of the main representatives of Christian existentialism in Latin America. He was Peruvian ambassador to Greece, Germany, Yugoslavia, Colombia and France.
13- Eduardo Nicol (1907-1990)
Mexican philosopher of Catalan origin, doctor in philosophy by the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He founded the Institute of Philosophical Research.
14- Francisco Miró Quesada (1918-)
He is a contemporary Peruvian philosopher and journalist. In his work he discusses the belief in"human nature"warning that any collective assumption about it will be frustrating and with negative public results. He has always been inclined towards"unorthodox logic"and coined the term"paraconsistent logic".
15- Luis Villoro (1922-2014)
Contemporary Mexican philosopher who explored the metaphysical understanding of the otherness, the limits and reaches of reason as well as the link between knowledge and power.
He made an important study on indigenismo in Mexico, which he called"the Revolution of Independence", after the EZLN was lifted in 1994.
16- Fernando Salmerón (1925-1997)
Philosopher and Mexican researcher, specialized in the ethics and philosophy of education as well as the history of philosophy. Member of the National College.
17- Alejandro Rossi (1932-2009)
Philosopher of Italian origin, of Mexican nationality. He was a close collaborator of Octavio Paz in his cultural enterprises.
18- Leopoldo Zea (1912-2004)
Philosopher born in Mexico who belonged to the group of propellers of Latin American identity. It promoted the integration of America, on the bases set forth by the liberators, but making sense of it by moving away from US imperialism and new colonialism.
19- Octavio Paz (1914-1998)
Mexican thinker, poet and diplomat, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1990. One of the most influential writers of the 20th century and among the greatest Hispanic poets in history.
20- Enrique Dussel (1934-)
Argentine scholar, historian and philosopher. He is internationally recognized for his work in the field of ethics, political philosophy and Latin American philosophy. He is considered one of the most prestigious philosophical thinkers of the twentieth century. He has defended the philosophical position called"decolonizador giro" [4] .
References
[1] Boyd, A. Latin American philosophy in the twentieth century. Taken from rep.routledge.com.
[3] Rojas Osorio, C. Latin America: one hundred years of philosophy, Volume 1.
[4] Wikipedia. Recovered on December 15, 2016.