Background
ZEA, Leopoldo was born on June 30, 1912 in Mexico. Son of Leopoldo Zea and Luz Aguilar.
ZEA, Leopoldo was born on June 30, 1912 in Mexico. Son of Leopoldo Zea and Luz Aguilar.
National Autonomous University of Mexico. Master's Degree 1943. Doctoral Degree 1944.
President Historical Commission, of Pan American Institute of Geography and History since 1961. Director of Faculty of Philosophy and Letters 1966-1970, Professor Emeritus 1971. Director-General of Cultural Broadcasting since 1970.
Co-ordinator, Co-ordination and Diffusion Central for Latin American Studies. Honorary degree (University of Paris X) 1984, (Moscow) 1984, (University de la Republic, Uruguay) 1985, (University Nacional Autbnoma, Mexico) 1985.
In his early works on positivism in Mexico Zea demonstrates that while positivism was promoted as an ‘objective’ and ‘scientific’ doctrine which could most efficiently manage society, from the beginning certain members of the middle class reaped the benefits of the positivistic administration of Porfirio Diaz at the expense of the rest of the middle class and society. In addition to being a seminal contribution to the intellectual history of nineteenth-century Latin America, this emphasis
on Mexican thought as it affected the nation socially and politically marks Zea's conviction that all philosophy arises from concrete individuals with particular historical circumstances and that 'universal' truths are then suspect.
Zea seeks truth in values such as equality, tolerance and respect for the individual as he continues to question that which is considered ‘universal’.
El Colegio de Mexico 1940. Society Europeenne de Culture since 1953.
Married 1st Elena Prado Vertiz in 1943 (divorced), two son four daughter. Married 2nd Maria Elena Rodriguez Ozan in 1982.