Latin American Positivism

"Latin American Positivism: Theory and Practice" examines the role of positivism in the intellectual and political life of three major nations: Colombia, Brazil, and M xico. In doing so, the authors first focus on the intellectual linkages and distinctions between Latin American positivists and their European counterparts. Also, they examine the impact of positivist theory on the political cultures of these nations and the more significant impact of the political and socio-economic cultures of those states upon positivist thought. Rather than asserting that the positivist movement was a moving force that reformatted many Latin American modalities, the authors demonstrate that the dynamics of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Latin American societies altered positivism to a greater extent that the positivists altered these nations.

Historians of Latin American philosophy have paid relatively little attention to the development of philosophical analysis in Latin America. There are two reasons for this neglect: First, they have been primarily concerned with the forma tive period of philosophical development, in particular with the so called "founders" of La ti n American philosophy. And second. philosophical analysis did not become a noticeable philosophical trend in Latin America until recent years. True. a nunber of Latin American philosophers took notice of Moore. Russell. the members of the Vienna Circle and other important figures in the analytic movement qui te early. But these were isolated instances that lacked the sustained effort and broad base indispensible to make a serious impact in the development of Latin American philosophy. That has changed now. There are not only good numbers of philosophers who work within the analytic tradition, but also some journals and institutes dedicated to the analytic mode of philosophizing. It is. therefore. most appropriate to publish a collection of articles which would introduce the reader of philosophy to the most representative analytic material produced so far in Latin America. Indeed. it is not only appropriate. but also necessary. since most of the published analytic literature to date is scattered in various journals, sometimes of difficult access. Moreover, not all that has been published is representative of the best already produced and of the potential that the movement has in Latin America.

A History of Modern Latin America: 1800 to the Present examines the diverse and interlocking experiences of people of indigenous, African, and European backgrounds from the onset of independence until today. Illustrates and analyzes the major and minor events that shape history, the triumphs and defeats, and the everyday lives of people of varied classes and racial and ethnic backgrounds Intersperses accounts of the lives of prominent figures with those of ordinary people Emphasizes gender's role in influencing political and economic change and shaping cultural identity Student and instructor resources available at http://minerva.union.edu/meadet/modernlatinamerica/index.html [Wiley disclaims all responsibility and liability for the content of any third-party websites that can be linked to from this website. Users assume sole responsibility for accessing third-party websites and the use of any content appearing on such websites. Any views expressed in such websites are the views of the authors of the content appearing on those websites and not the views of Wiley or its affiliates, nor do they in any way represent an endorsement by Wiley or its affiliates.]

This introduction provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the central topics in Latin American philosophy. It explores not only the unique insights offered by Latin American thinkers into pre-established fields of Western philosophy, but also the many 'isms' developed as a direct result of Latin American thought.

This comprehensive collection of original essays written by an international group of scholars addresses the central themes in Latin American philosophy. Represents the most comprehensive survey of historical and contemporary Latin American philosophy available today Comprises a specially commissioned collection of essays, many of them written by Latin American authors Examines the history of Latin American philosophy and its current issues, traces the development of the discipline, and offers biographical sketches of key Latin American thinkers Showcases the diversity of approaches, issues, and styles that characterize the field