Bolívar Echeverría
Encyclopedia
Bolívar Echeverría was a philosopher, economist
and cultural critic
, born in Ecuador and later nationalized mexican. He was professor emeritus
on the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
(UNAM).
) and Mexico. He participated on the German student movement
in the late 60's decade, establishing friendship and long-lasting collaboration with its leaders, including Rudi Dutschke
. On 1970 he started permanent residence in Mexico
, where he lived as a translator, also continuing his studies on philosophy
and economics
. Later on, he developed a seminar on Marx's Das Kapital
, which lasted six years and included intensive systematic readings of the book. Since then he became an academic of the Faculties of Philosophy and Economics on the UNAM
, where he founded several magazines on culture and politics, such as Cuadernos Políticos (Political Notebooks) (1974–1989); Palos de la Crítica (roughly translated as Sticks of the Critique) (1980–1981); Economía Política (Political Economy) (1976–1985) and Ensayos (Essays) (1980–1988). He was also part of the Editorial Board
of magazines like Theoria (Theory) (since 1991); and Contrahistorias. La otra mirada de Clío
(since 2003).
His investigations where mainly (and broadly) concerned on: the ontological problems of existensialism, especially in Sartre and Heidegger; Marxian critique of political economy, focusing on the contradiction between Use value
and Exchange value
; and a contemporary development of critical theory
and the Frankfurt School
, including cultural and historical phenomena of Latin America
. From this standpoint, Echeverría formulated a rigorous critique of postmodernity
, with which he developed his theory of capitalist modernity and the baroque ethos, a form of cultural resistance in Latin America
. He also wrote extensively on the fundamental contradictions of modernity
as a civilizatory process and explored the possibilities of what he called an alternative modernity, in other words, a non-capitalist modernity.
Echeverría received several prices for his scholarship, including: Premio Universidad Nacional a la Docencia (México,1997), Premio Pio Jaramillo Alvarado (FLACSO-Quito, 2004) and Premio Libertador Simón Bolívar al Pensamiento Crítico (Caracas, 2006).
He died in Mexico City
on June 5, 2010, of a heart attack, as a result of several blood pressure complications.
(There are no english translations of any of his works)
Stefan Gandler: Peripherer Marxismus. Kritische Theorie in Mexiko. Hamburg, Berlin: Argument-Verlag, 1999. 459 pages, ISBN: 3-88619-270-9.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and cultural critic
Cultural critic
A cultural critic is a critic of a given culture, usually as a whole and typically on a radical basis. There is significant overlap with social and cultural theory.-Terminology:...
, born in Ecuador and later nationalized mexican. He was professor emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
on the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM).
Life and Work
Echeverría realized his studies in Germany (Free University of BerlinFree University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
) and Mexico. He participated on the German student movement
German student movement
The German student movement was a protest movement that took place during the late 1960s in West Germany. It was largely a reaction against the perceived authoritarianism and hypocrisy of the German government and other Western governments, and the poor living conditions of students...
in the late 60's decade, establishing friendship and long-lasting collaboration with its leaders, including Rudi Dutschke
Rudi Dutschke
Alfred Willi Rudi Dutschke was the most prominent spokesperson of the German student movement of the 1960s. He advocated 'a long march through the institutions' of power to create radical change from within government and society by becoming an integral part of the machinery...
. On 1970 he started permanent residence in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where he lived as a translator, also continuing his studies on philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. Later on, he developed a seminar on Marx's Das Kapital
Das Kapital
Das Kapital, Kritik der politischen Ökonomie , by Karl Marx, is a critical analysis of capitalism as political economy, meant to reveal the economic laws of the capitalist mode of production, and how it was the precursor of the socialist mode of production.- Themes :In Capital: Critique of...
, which lasted six years and included intensive systematic readings of the book. Since then he became an academic of the Faculties of Philosophy and Economics on the UNAM
Unam
UNAM or UNaM may refer to:* National University of Misiones, a National University in Posadas, Argentina*National Autonomous University of Mexico , the large public autonomous university based in Mexico City...
, where he founded several magazines on culture and politics, such as Cuadernos Políticos (Political Notebooks) (1974–1989); Palos de la Crítica (roughly translated as Sticks of the Critique) (1980–1981); Economía Política (Political Economy) (1976–1985) and Ensayos (Essays) (1980–1988). He was also part of the Editorial Board
Editorial board
The editorial board is a group of people, usually at a publication, who dictate the tone and direction the publication's editorial policy will take.- Board makeup :...
of magazines like Theoria (Theory) (since 1991); and Contrahistorias. La otra mirada de Clío
Clio
thumb|Clio—detail from [[The Art of Painting|The Allegory of Painting]] by [[Johannes Vermeer]]In Greek mythology, Clio or Kleio, is the muse of history. Like all the muses, she is a daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne...
(since 2003).
His investigations where mainly (and broadly) concerned on: the ontological problems of existensialism, especially in Sartre and Heidegger; Marxian critique of political economy, focusing on the contradiction between Use value
Use value
Use value or value in use is the utility of consuming a good; the want-satisfying power of a good or service in classical political economy. In Marx's critique of political economy, any labor-product has a value and a use-value, and if it is traded as a commodity in markets, it additionally has an...
and Exchange value
Exchange value
In political economy and especially Marxian economics, exchange value refers to one of four major attributes of a commodity, i.e., an item or service produced for, and sold on the market...
; and a contemporary development of critical theory
Critical theory
Critical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
and the Frankfurt School
Frankfurt School
The Frankfurt School refers to a school of neo-Marxist interdisciplinary social theory, particularly associated with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt am Main...
, including cultural and historical phenomena of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. From this standpoint, Echeverría formulated a rigorous critique of postmodernity
Postmodernity
Postmodernity is generally used to describe the economic or cultural state or condition of society which is said to exist after modernity...
, with which he developed his theory of capitalist modernity and the baroque ethos, a form of cultural resistance in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. He also wrote extensively on the fundamental contradictions of modernity
Modernity
Modernity typically refers to a post-traditional, post-medieval historical period, one marked by the move from feudalism toward capitalism, industrialization, secularization, rationalization, the nation-state and its constituent institutions and forms of surveillance...
as a civilizatory process and explored the possibilities of what he called an alternative modernity, in other words, a non-capitalist modernity.
Echeverría received several prices for his scholarship, including: Premio Universidad Nacional a la Docencia (México,1997), Premio Pio Jaramillo Alvarado (FLACSO-Quito, 2004) and Premio Libertador Simón Bolívar al Pensamiento Crítico (Caracas, 2006).
He died in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
on June 5, 2010, of a heart attack, as a result of several blood pressure complications.
Major Works
- El discurso crítico de Marx, México: Era, 1986.
- Conversaciones sobre lo barroco, México: UNAM, 1993.
- Circulación capitalista y reproducción de la riqueza social. Apunte crítico sobre los esquemas de K. Marx, México: UNAM / Quito: Nariz del diablo, 1994.
- (comp.), Modernidad, mestizaje cultural y ethos barroco, México: UNAM / El Equilibrista, 1994.
- Las ilusiones de la modernidad, México: UNAM / El equilibrista, 1995.
- Valor de uso y utopía, México: Siglo XXI, 1998.
- La modernidad de lo barroco, México: Era, 1998.
- Definición de la cultura, México: Itaca, 2001.
- (comp.), La mirada del ángel. Sobre el concepto de la historia de Walter Benjamin, México: Era, 2005.
- Vuelta de siglo, México: Era, 2006.
- Modernidad y blanquitud, México: Era, 2010.
(There are no english translations of any of his works)
Works on Bolívar Echeverría
Stefan Gandler, Marxismo crítico en México: Adolfo Sánchez Vázquez y Bolívar Echeverría, México, FCE/UNAM/UAQ, 2007.Stefan Gandler: Peripherer Marxismus. Kritische Theorie in Mexiko. Hamburg, Berlin: Argument-Verlag, 1999. 459 pages, ISBN: 3-88619-270-9.
External links
- http://www.posgrado.unam.mx/filosofia/publica/Biograp-Sketch.pdf
- Bolívar Echeverría: Teoría crítica y filosofía de la cultura Página personal
- “El descontento se está dando en los usos y costumbres de la vida cotidiana” Interview with philosopher Bolívar Echeverría, Premio Simón Bolívar al Pensamiento Crítico 2007
- Producir y significar. Sobre Bolívar Echeverría: Definición de la cultura Essay by Stefan Gandler