Mexican Philoso final terms

Positivism

A philosophy that says only science and observable facts count as real knowledge. In Mexico (Barreda), it promoted modernization but ignored art, spirituality, and moral values, leading to a mechanical view of humans.

Charity (Caso)

Self-giving actions without personal gain — generosity, sacrifice, love. Shows humans can rise above biological selfishness. The highest expression of the spiritual life.

Philosophical Anthropology

A philosophical discipline that studies what it means to be human in a deep, unified way. Humans are conscious, purpose-driven, and value-oriented beings.

Personalidad (Ramos)

The highest fulfillment of the person — when someone acts from inner truth, values, and moral freedom. Not everyone achieves it; it is a duty to develop personality.

Disinterest

Actions done with no selfish motive (art, sacrifice, helping others). For Caso, disinterest proves humans can act freely and spiritually, not just biologically.

False Europeanism

Blindly imitating Europe, assuming Europe is superior. Creates cultural self-negation and insecurity.

False Mexicanism

Overreacting against Europe by rejecting anything foreign. Often becomes nationalistic or anti-intellectual, another form of insecurity

Culture

The spiritual dimension of life — art, values, morality, creativity. Expresses a people’s inner meaning.

Civilization

The material and technical side of society — science, machines, industry, efficiency. Can overshadow culture if unchecked.

Ateneo de la Juventud

Group of young Mexican philosophers (Caso, Vasconcelos, Henríquez Ureña) who opposed positivism and defended spiritual values, ethics, and culture.

Mestizaje

Racial and cultural mixing. For Vasconcelos, the source of a new, richer humanity (“Cosmic Race”) that transcends racism and nationalism

Inferiority Complex

A feeling (not fact) of inadequacy. Ramos says Mexican history produced this feeling, which leads to defensiveness, boasting, resentment, and insecurity.

Pelado

Social type representing the raw, exaggerated expression of the inferiority complex — aggressive, vulgar, hyper-masculine behavior used to hide insecurity.

Humanism (and its crisis)

Humanism = belief in human dignity, freedom, spiritual meaning.
Crisis = modern world overvalues machines, efficiency, and material progress, losing sight of values and inner life.

Arielismo

Latin American idealism inspired by Rodó’s Ariel. Opposes materialism (Caliban) and defends beauty, morality, culture, and spiritual refinement.

Machinism

Life dominated by machines and mechanical thinking. Reduces humans to tools and causes the crisis of humanism.

Dualism

The split between spiritual vs. material, or culture vs. civilization. Ramos says overcoming dualism is necessary to rebuild authentic humanism.

Philosophy of History

Interpreting the meaning and patterns of historical events. Used by thinkers like Vasconcelos to understand national destiny and cultural development.

Irrationalism

A movement against pure rationalism; emphasizes intuition, emotion, will, creativity (Nietzsche, Bergson). Opens space for art, spirituality, and values.