Enrique Dussel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Enrique Dussel
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Dussel in 2009
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| Born |
Enrique Domingo Dussel
24 December 1934 |
| Died | 5 November 2023 (aged 88) Mexico City, Mexico
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| Education |
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| Spouse(s) | Johanna Peters |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Continental philosophy, theology of liberation, Marxism |
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Main interests
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Philosophy of liberation, ethics, political economy, theology, history |
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Notable ideas
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Transmodernism |
Enrique Domingo Dussel Ambrosini (born December 24, 1934 – died November 5, 2023) was an important thinker from Argentina and Mexico. He was a philosopher, historian, and theologian. This means he studied big ideas about life, how societies change over time, and religious beliefs. He even served as a temporary leader for a university in Mexico City for a year.
Contents
Life and Work
Early Life and Studies
Enrique Dussel was born in a place called La Paz, Mendoza, in Argentina. He started his studies at the National University of Cuyo in Argentina, where he earned a degree in philosophy. Philosophy is all about asking deep questions about life, knowledge, values, and how we should live.
After finishing his studies in Argentina, he traveled to Europe to learn even more. He earned advanced degrees from universities in Madrid and Paris. He also studied theology, which is the study of religious faith and practice.
Between 1959 and 1961, Enrique lived in Israel. There, he learned Arabic and Hebrew and worked in a community project. This experience, and meeting a French Jesuit named Paul Gauthier, helped shape his ideas about liberation theology. This is a way of thinking that connects religious faith with helping people who are poor or treated unfairly.
Facing Challenges and Moving to Mexico
When Enrique returned to Argentina in 1969, he became interested in dependency theory. This idea suggests that some countries are poor because richer countries depend on them in unfair ways. He also learned from the writings of another philosopher, Emmanuel Levinas. These ideas greatly influenced his own thinking.
During the 1970s, Argentina faced a difficult time with a military government. People like Enrique, who spoke out about fairness and justice, were often targeted. He received threats, his house was bombed, and he lost his job at the university. Because it became too dangerous, he had to leave Argentina in 1975 and moved to Mexico as a political exile.
In Mexico, he continued his work as a philosophy professor. He taught at two major universities: the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
His Important Ideas
Enrique Dussel was recognized for his important work. He received many special honors called honorary doctorates from universities around the world. He wrote over 40 books on many different topics. These included the philosophy of liberation, which we'll talk more about, and ideas about right and wrong (ethics). He also wrote about how money and power work in society (political economy), religious beliefs (theology), and history.
He was also a visiting professor at many famous universities, including Harvard University. He discussed his ideas with other well-known philosophers. He was known for being a critic of postmodernity, which is a way of thinking about the modern world. Instead, he preferred the term "transmodernity", which suggests a different way forward for society.
Enrique Dussel passed away on November 5, 2023, at the age of 88.
What is Philosophy of Liberation?
Enrique Dussel is one of the most important figures in a way of thinking called the Philosophy of Liberation. This philosophy is all about looking closely at unfair systems and speaking out against them.
It challenges things like:
- Colonialism: When one country takes control of another land and its people.
- Imperialism: When powerful countries try to expand their influence and control over weaker ones.
- Globalization: The way the world is becoming more connected, but sometimes in ways that benefit some people more than others.
- Racism: Unfair treatment or beliefs based on someone's race.
- Sexism: Unfair treatment or beliefs based on someone's gender.
The Philosophy of Liberation wants to create a more just and fair world for everyone, especially for those who have been left out or treated badly by powerful systems.
See also
In Spanish: Enrique Dussel para niños
