About the Editors viii

Contributors ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

Part I Historical Perspectives 7

1 Pre-Columbian Philosophies 9
James Maffie

2 The Rights of the American Indians 23
Bernardo J. Canteñs

3 Colonial Thought 36
Luis Fernando Restrepo

4 The Emergence and Transformation of Positivism 53
Meri L. Clark

5 Early Critics of Positivism 68
Oscar R. Martí

6 The Anti-Positivist Movement in Mexico 82
Guillermo Hurtado

7 Darwinism 95
Adriana Novoa and Alex Levine

8 Krausism 110
Claus Dierksmeier

9 ‘Normal’ Philosophy 128
William F. Cooper

10 Ortega y Gasset’s Heritage in Latin America 142
Manuel Garrido

11 Phenomenology 156
Nythamar de Oliveira

12 Marxism 170
Renzo Llorente

13 Liberation Philosophy 185
David Ignatius Gandolfo

14 Analytic Philosophy 199
Diana I. Pérez and Gustavo Ortiz-Millán

Part II Current Issues 215

15 Paraconsistent Logic 217
Newton C. A. da Costa and Otávio Bueno

16 Language and Colonization 230
Ilan Stavans

17 Ethnic-Group Terms 241
Susana Nuccetelli and Roderick Stewart

18 Identity and Latin American Philosophy 253
Jorge J. E. Gracia

19 Latinos on Race and Ethnicity: Alcoff, Corlett, and Gracia 269
Lawrence Blum

20 Mestizaje and Hispanic Identity 283
Gregory Velazco y Trianosky

21 Liberation in Theology, Philosophy, and Pedagogy 297
Iván Márquez

22 Philosophy, Postcoloniality, and Postmodernity 312
Ofelia Schutte

23 Globalization and Latin American Thought 327
A. Pablo Iannone

Part III Disciplinary Developments 341

24 Latin American Philosophy 343
Susana Nuccetelli

25 Contemporary Ethics and Political Philosophy 357
Eduardo Rivera-López

26 Philosophy of Science 370
Alberto Cordero

27 Philosophy and Latin American Literature 383
Jesús H. Aguilar

28 Feminist Philosophy 397
Ofelia Schutte and María Luisa Femenías

29 Teaching Philosophy 412
María Cristina González and Nora Stigol

30 Cultural Studies 425
Arturo Arias

31 Deontic Logic and Legal Philosophy 439
Pablo Navarro

32 Metaphysics 454
Liza Skidelsky

33 Epistemology 468
Eleonora Cresto

34 Formal Epistemology and Logic 482
Horacio Arló-Costa and Eduardo Fermé

Part IV Biographical Sketches 497

35 Some Great Figures 499
Gregory D. Gilson and Gregory Fernando Pappas

36 From Philosophy to Physics, and Back 525
Mario Bunge

Index 540

"The most comprehensive guide to Latin American philosophy to date. It covers an astonishing range of issues from pre-Columbian times to the present in highly informative essays. This is a work destined to last." Iván Jaksic, Stanford University

"This outstanding work is a thorough presentation of the main topics of Latin American Philosophy from colonial times to the present. The authors adeptly combine discussions of historical aspects with issues of contemporary importance, and also describe developments in the philosophical disciplines in Latin America. Beyond its usefulness for the study of philosophy, the book has much to offer anyone interested in Latin American history, literature, or political and social ideas." J.C. Torchia Estrada, Philosophy Contributing Editor, Handbook of Latin American Studies

"It will no doubt serve as the field's standard for years to come." HumStud

"A welcome addition to the growing body of literature on Latin American philosophy. Highly recommended for upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty and general readers." CHOICE

A Companion to Latin American Philosophy presents a comprehensive collection of original essays addressing the central themes in Latin American philosophy. Contributed by a distinguished team of scholars, many of them Latin American, the essays discuss and analyze the diversity and multifaceted nature of philosophical thought emerging from Latin America. Addressing both analytical and continental traditions, the Companion explores 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. Themes and topics discussed include the nature of philosophy, justice, human rights, and cultural identity. Taken together, the essays provide rich insights into Latin American philosophical thought as it developed from pre-Columbian societies through the colonial era and up to the present day.

Comprised of an outstanding compilation of current thinking on central issues and arguments, A Companion to Latin American Philosophy provides English-speaking readers with an illuminating portrait of Latin America's rich and rigorous tradition of creative philosophical thought.

"The most comprehensive guide to Latin American philosophy to date. It covers an astonishing range of issues from pre-Columbian times to the present in highly informative essays. This is a work destined to last."
—Iván Jaksic, Stanford University

"This outstanding work is a thorough presentation of the main topics of Latin American Philosophy from colonial times to the present. The authors adeptly combine discussions of historical aspects with issues of contemporary importance, and also describe developments in the philosophical disciplines in Latin America. Beyond its usefulness for the study of philosophy, the book has much to offer anyone interested in Latin American history, literature, or political and social ideas."
—J.C. Torchia Estrada, Philosophy Contributing Editor, Handbook of Latin American Studies

"It will no doubt serve as the field's standard for years to come." (Hum Stud, 2011)

"A welcome addition to the growing body of literature on Latin American philosophy. Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers." (Choice, 1 March 2011)