Latin American Philosophy

More than simply philosophical work from Latin America or from Latin American thinkers, Latin American philosophy is a distinctive philosophical tradition, emergent, in the words of Enrique Dussel, from "the underside of history". Although the characteristics of Latin American philosophy are hotly debated, suggested themes and commonalities include: 1) attention to lived experience and the role of social, political, and historical location in shaping the pursuit of truth and justice; 2) contemporary reverberations of indigenous thought; 3) inquiry into what it means to be 'Latin American' and/or 'Latinx'; and 4) an urgent concern for liberation from colonialism and oppression. In this class, we read works from thinkers who are aligned with this contested tradition while also grappling with the philosophical question of what makes Latin American philosophy what it is. Mirroring the fields own tendencies towards situated and engaged philosophy, the course strives to attend to the distinctive historical, social, and political contexts out of which these texts emerge while also highlighting their relevance to struggles for liberation today. Indeed, no tradition of critical inquiry and philosophical reflection may be more relevant to the contemporary moment; whether it be the issue of immigration, colonialism and decolonialization, or the search for identity, Latin American philosophy cuts to the quick of the social and political issues of our times, deploying philosophy itself as a tool of change. Fulfills DIV13 Distribution.