Mexican Philosophy in the 20th Century Oxford New Histories of Philosophy Series Editors Christia Mercer and Eileen O’Neill Advisory Board Jacqueline Broad, Marguerite Deslauriers, Karen Detlefsen, Don Garrett, Robert Gooding-Williams, Andrew Janiak, Marcy Lascano, Lisa Shapiro, Tommie Shelby * Oxford New Histories of Philosophy provides essential resources for those aim- ing to diversify the content of their philosophy courses, revisit traditional nar- ratives about the history of philosophy, or better understand the richness of philosophy’s past. Examining previously neglected or understudied philosophi- cal figures, movements, and traditions, the series includes both innovative new scholarship and new primary sources. * Published in the series Mexican Philosophy in the 20th Century: Essential Readings Edited by Carlos Alberto Sánchez and Robert Eli Sanchez, Jr. Mexican Philosophy in the 20th Century Essential Readings EDITED BY CARLOS ALBERTO SÁNCHEZ and ROBERT ELI SANCHEZ, JR. 1 1 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and certain other countries. Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America. © Oxford University Press 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above. You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer. CIP data is on file at the Library of Congress ISBN 978–0–19–060130–0 (pbk) ISBN 978–0–19–060129–4 (hbk) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Paperback printed by WebCom, Inc., Canada Hardback printed by Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc., United States of America Para México, sus filósofos, y a quienes no conocen fronteras. For all would- be students of philosophy who could not find anything in the library resembling their own experience. THE HORSEMAN In the far- off mountains rides a horseman, Wandering alone in the world and wishing for death. In his breast he carries a wound, his soul is destroyed. He loved her more than his own life, And he lost her forever. That’s why he is wounded, that’s why he seeks death. He spends whole nights singing with his guitar, Man and guitar weeping by the light of the stars. Then he loses himself in the night, and although the night is very beautiful, He asks God to bear him away to her, The woman he loved more than his own life, And lost forever. That’s why he is wounded, that’s why he seeks death. — José Alfredo Jiménez, the great Mexican philosopher- mariachero1 1 “El jinete,” translation in Gilbert M. Joseph and Timothy J. Henderson, eds., The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2002), 53. CONTENTS Series Editors’ Foreword xi Acknowledgments xiii Permissions xvii Translators xix Introduction xxi 1. G abino Barreda and Contemporary Ideas CHAPTER (September 12, 1910) by José Vasconcelos 1 2. D iscourse at the Inauguration of the National CHAPTER  University (September 22, 1910) by Justo Sierra 17 3. E xistence as Economy and as Charity: An Essay on CHAPTER  the Essence of Christianity (1916) by Antonio Caso 27 4. N either Irrationalism nor Rationalism but Critical CHAPTER  Philosophy (1928) by José Romano Muñoz 46 5. T wenty Years of Education in Mexico (1941) CHAPTER  by Samuel Ramos 53 6. Th e History of Philosophy in Mexico (1943) CHAPTER  by Samuel Ramos 63 7. Th e University Debate Between Antonio Caso and CHAPTER  Vicente Lombardo Toledano (1933) 73