GABINO BARREDA: BIOGRAPHY AND CONTRIBUTIONS - HISTORY - 2025

Gabino Barreda was a Mexican philosopher, politician and doctor born in 1818 in the city of Puebla. He is especially known for being the introducer of the positivist school in the country, with a special impact on educational policies. In fact, Barreda participated in the educational reform carried out in the Benito Juárez government, after the Second Mexican Empire.

He contributed the whole vision of positivist scientism, trying to leave behind the ecclesiastical influence in teaching. The philosopher was called to the government by Juárez himself, who had been impressed after Barreda's civic prayer. In this he called for the emancipation of the Mexican nation in the political, social and religious spheres.

In addition to his political positions, Barreda worked for many years in teaching. In this field, he highlighted his performance as the first director of the National Preparatory School, introducing his ideas. This later led to the creation of the University of Mexico.

Biography of Gabino Barreda

His full name was Gabino Eleuterio Juan Nepomuceno Barreda Flores and he was born on February 19, 1818 in Puebla. The first years of training were carried out in his hometown.

At the end of his first educational stages, he went to Mexico City, where he entered the Colegio de San Ildefonso. He began to study Jurisprudence, but his preferences for natural sciences soon prevailed and he changed that career to Chemistry at the College of Mining. After this, he continued his training in Medicine, in 1843.

Like many Mexicans of that time, Barreda had to defend his country during the US intervention in 1846. During the Battle of Molino del Rey, he was taken prisoner by enemy troops.

Until the victory of Juárez

Once the war ended, Barreda traveled to Paris willing to continue his medical studies. It was in the French capital where he had a meeting that marked his thinking. A friend convinced him to attend the courses given by Augusto Comte, the creator of positivism.

Upon returning to Mexico, Barreda took with him all the work of the French philosopher. His purpose was to apply his principles to Mexican politics and society, for which he founded the Sociedad Metodófila. This later gave rise to a political party, the Scientific Party, but Gabino was only part of it for a short time.

With his medical degree obtained, he began his teaching career. His first experience in this field was at the National School of Medicine.

There he was the first professor of General Pathology, newly created as a subject. He also taught Philosophy of Medicine and Natural History.

His work as a teacher, plus his work as a promoter of positivism, made him have to leave for Guanajuato during the French intervention and the subsequent imperial government. He was a refugee there for four years, from 1863 to 1867.

Civic prayer

The change of regime, with the victory of Benito Juárez's troops, led to a change in their situation. The turning point was his Civic Prayer, which impressed the future president of the nation.

In this proclamation, Barreda reviewed the history of Mexico, interpreting it from the point of view of positivist philosophy. For him, the country had to seek emancipation from the influences of its past, both in the political, religious and scientific spheres.

The phrase that can summarize the content of the Civic Prayer is the following: «Let freedom, order and progress be our motto from now on: freedom as a means, order as a base and progress as an end; triple motto symbolized in the triple colors of our beautiful national flag (…) ”.

Education reform

The first Secretary of Justice and Public Instruction of the Benito Juárez government, Antonio Martínez de Castro, sent for Barreda to reform the Mexican educational system. As a result of these works, on December 2, 1867, the corresponding law was promulgated.

Among its most outstanding points were the creation of the Preparatory School and the compulsory nature of the primary stage. This, according to the new law, became free and secular.

After this, Barreda became the director of the National Preparatory School. The politician and philosopher led the reins of this organism applying the principles emanating from positivism; his motto was "Love, order and progress." He held office until 1878.

All historians agree that his work was the germ of the future foundation of the Autonomous University of Mexico.

Other charges

While he held the position of director of the School, Barreda did not leave his chair of General Pathology. In addition, he had an important participation in the political life of the country.

Thus, he held positions such as the presidency of the Public Instruction Commission of Congress. Later, during the government of Porfirio Díaz, he was appointed ambassador to Germany.

Death

Barreda spent 3 years at the embassy in Germany. He returned in 1881, establishing his residence in the Mexican capital. Shortly after his return, on March 20, 1881, Gabino Barreda passed away at home.

The mortal remains of the Mexican philosopher and politician were taken to the Rotunda of Illustrious Persons on January 22, 1968.

Contributions

Gabino Barreda's main contribution was the introduction of positivist thought in Mexican society.

This philosophical current proclaims the primacy of science to interpret and understand reality. According to his followers, everything that cannot be measured, contemplated or experienced cannot be claimed to exist.

Positivism in education

Looking at the bases of positivist thought, Barreda's contribution to education is much better understood.

Prior to the reform of the laws - in which he was the protagonist - religion was the basis on which the educational system revolved. For this reason, Barreda proclaimed the need to emancipate himself from that influence.

For the philosopher, education should not indoctrinate but liberate. In his thinking it was about putting teaching on the social axis to achieve the progress of the State.

Public education

Also within the educational field, Barreda was a pioneer in giving the highest importance to the teaching system within society. As an element of liberation and progress, it had to be accessible to all.

For this reason, under its education law the primary stage became free, secular and, as a main point, compulsory for all Mexican children.

Education and social cohesion

Barreda also proclaimed several philosophical principles applicable in educational practice. In his works he ordered the knowledge acquisition process in the following steps: pure reasoning, rational observation and, finally, observation and experimentation. In this way he applied scientist theory to teaching.

References

1. Biographies and Lives. Gabino Barreda. Obtained from biografiasyvidas.com
2. Circle of Studies of Mexican Philosophy. Gabino Barreda was born on February 19, 1818. Obtained from PhilosophyMexicana.org
3. Ortega Esquivel, Aureliano. Gabino Barreda, positivism and the philosophy of Mexican history. Recovered from cervantesvirtual.com
4. Greg Gilson, Irving Levinson. Latin American Positivism: New Historical and Philosophic Essays. Recovered from books.google.es
5. Zea, Leopoldo. Positivism in Mexico. Recovered from books.google.es
6. Stehn, Alexander V. Latin American Philosophy. Retrieved from iep.utm.edu
7. Upclosed. Gabino Barreda. Retrieved from upclosed.com
8. Encyclopedia.com. Barreda, Gabino (1818–1881). Retrieved from encyclopedia.com