THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT MEXICAN PHILOSOPHERS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS - PHILOSOPHY - 2025

Some of the most important Mexican philosophers have been Leopodo Zea Aguilar, Alfonso Méndez Plancarte or Gabino Barreda. Mexico could be considered an important bastion of philosophical thought in Latin America.

For centuries, many and diverse philosophers have been born in these lands and have dedicated their lives to the search for knowledge and reflection. Those whose contributions have crossed borders can be counted today among the most notable Latin American philosophers.

Even before the 20th century, in Mexico there were already those who dedicated themselves to philosophical reflection. Today Mexican philosophers are very numerous. However, there are a few whose influence has gone much further over time.

List of the main Mexican philosophers and their contributions

Leopoldo Zea Aguilar (1912 - 2004)

Considered one of the Latin American thinkers of greatest importance and integrity. He was a disciple of José Gaos, who pushed him to dedicate himself exclusively to philosophical study and research.

His thinking focused on Latin America, studying first the Mexican social context and then coming up with proposals that would serve Latin American integration as a reality, and not a utopia.

He rejected US imperialist behavior and neocolonialism. A strong historical influence for Zea Aguilar was Simón Bolívar.

One of his greatest pursuits was the consolidation of a Latin American philosophy as the basis of a continental thought. He received the National Award for Sciences and Arts in 1980.

Alfonso Méndez Plancarte (1909 - 1955)

He studied mainly Mexican culture and arts in his colonial period, and one of his greatest contributions was the study and preservation of the work of Sor Juana de la Cruz, a great Mexican thinker of the colonial era.

Alfonso Méndez Plancarte dedicated a large part of his life to meticulous research on previous works, which has allowed Mexican society to have a higher level of access to much earlier cultural and artistic works and works, thanks to the work of this philosopher and philologist.

Gabino Barreda (1818 - 1881)

One of the most prominent Mexican philosophers of the 19th century. He was a positivist philosopher, and in his time as an educator he was in charge of introducing the positivist method in teaching.

Among his main contributions are the reform of Mexican education and his struggle to maintain it as a fundamental pillar for Mexican social and cultural development.

Over time, later generations of philosophers would reject his positivist positions to promote more humanistic and less scientific perspectives.

José Vasconcelos (1882 - 1959)

Outstanding Mexican philosopher. He was rector of the National University of Mexico, and in parallel with philosophical thought, he devoted himself to actively participate in politics.

He supported the Mexican Revolution and during his time as rector he focused on sensitizing the university community in social action.

Among his main contributions and works are series on the triumph of the Mexican Revolution, the social and political decomposition of previous periods, and institutional reconstruction after the revolution.

Antonio Caso (1883 - 1946)

He became rector of the National University of Mexico and founder, together with Vasconcelos, of a humanist group opposed to the positivist philosophical positions that dominated the academic and reflection environments at that time.

This group, the Athenaeum of Youth, promoted the human being as a moral and spiritual individual, rather than coldly rational.

Caso would greatly influence later generations of philosophers. His thinking was greatly influenced by his Christian position, giving Jesus Christ a clear moral and spiritual authority over his philosophical reflections.

Caso was in charge of deconstructing human existence classifying it into several parts: aesthetic, economic, moral, charitable, etc. His work has been considered a "philosophy of the Mexican", and allowed him to propose scenarios that would work to improve the future of national society.

Samuel Ramos (1897 - 1959)

Like many of his colleagues, he was trained at UNAM. His works stand out for philosophically addressing Mexican identity and its psychological aspects. He was mainly influenced by the work of Ortega y Gasset and Alfred Adler.

He was a pupil of Caso, from whom he separated after publishing a criticism of him to continue developing his own thinking. He took the psychological model as the basis of his philosophy.

Among his main recognized works, stands out one that investigates an “inferiority” complex within the Mexican identity and behavior.

Although controversial, his works have allowed a new approach to the cultural conflicts that afflict Mexican society, and Ramos has proposed that solutions must be adapted to social and cultural reality.

Luis Villoro (1922 - 2014)

Professor and researcher at UNAM, disciple of José Gaos and important founder of Grupo Hiperión. He became president of the Philosophical Association of Mexico and is considered one of the most important references of the philosophy of this country.

Among his main contributions he stood out for developing reflective themes around metaphysics; the scope of reason and its limitations; relations between power and knowledge; reflective approaches to injustice; critical and practical dimensions of philosophy, etc.

His work is also notable for having approached with great interest the philosophical thought of Eastern cultures, feeling great respect for the differentiated aspects between these and Western philosophy itself.

Emilio Huranga (1921 - 1988)

Researcher, author and collaborator of multiple specialized publications, Emilio Huranga developed his career at UNAM, and collaborated with other institutions. It would be influenced by the school of thought spread by José Gaos.

During his career, Huranga developed with special emphasis spaces for reflection on philosophical experiences and the realities on which it is based.

He became a representative of the UNAM in international philosophical conferences and had close contact with renowned humanists and thinkers such as Camus, Heidegger, Sartre, among others.

José Gaos (1900 - 1969)

He was born in Spain, but went into exile in Mexico during the Spanish Civil War, where he became a Mexican national and developed the rest of his career.

He is considered of great importance in the history of Mexican philosophy, since he was the mentor of a whole generation of Mexican philosophers.

Among his greatest contributions to Mexican philosophy are his stages as a professor at UNAM, having great European influences, as well as a whole series of translations (more than 70) of European philosophical works that brought Mexicans closer to a wider spectrum of philosophical thought and reflection.

Many of the philosophers who were his students founded a group of great academic and thought importance: the Hyperion Group.

Mario Magallón (1946 - present)

Trained at UNAM, invited to the investigative participation by philosophers such as Zea Aguilar. Magallón's contributions and work could be considered circumstantial, since it focuses on providing answers to present-day phenomena, as they arise.

It explores the human being and the propensity to injustice, marginalization and exploitation with respect to the problems of today's society, both Mexican and international.

His works continue to be carried out, as he is one of the few Mexican philosophers of great importance still alive.

References

1. Abbagnano, N. (1974). Dictionary of philosophy. Mexico.
2. Beuchot, M. (1996). History of Philosophy in Colonial Mexico.
3. Medin, T. (1983). Leopoldo Zea: ideology, history and philosophy of Latin America. Mexico: UNAM.
4. Onfray, M. (2005). Antimanual of philosophy. Madrid: EDAF.
5. Salmerón, F. (1980). The Mexican philosophers of the 20th century. Studies of Philosophy in Mexico.
6. Vera, M. (1979). The philosophical thought of Vasconcelos. Extemporaneous.