Edmundo O'Gorman
Encyclopedia
Edmundo O'Gorman O'Gorman (* November 24, 1906 in Mexico City
– † September 28, 1995 in Mexico City) was an Irish-Mexican
writer, historian and philosopher.
He was the brother of architect Juan O'Gorman
and the son of painter and mining engineer Cecil Crawford O'Gorman who arrived in Mexico from Ireland
in 1895. He was also the grandson of Charles O'Gorman, the first British consul to Mexico City and later married a Mexican citizen. He graduated in Law
(1928) from Escuela Libre de Derecho
and with doctorate
s in Philosophy
(1948) and in History
(1951) from the UNAM
where he was also a faculty member. He worked for the General National Archive
between 1938 and 1952 and wrote several books between 1951 and 1986. He became a member of the Mexican Academy of the Spanish Language in 1969 and of the Mexican Academy of the Corresponding History of the Real of Madrid, corporation of which he became of director of from 1972 to 1987. He resigned after disagreements over concepts such as the "discovery of America", "encounter between two worlds", "cultural fusion" (or "natural mixing"), names he rejected and instead preferred the terms "empowerment", "domination" and others more according with history.
).
Published his first works and studies in the "Alcancía" along with his close friend Justino Fernández. In 1940 his acknowledgements and credentials turned him into History
teacher in the Philosophy
faculty of the Mexico City College. In 1948 he achieved a Master in Philosophy
and in 1951 a PhD in History with the summa cum laude honorific distinction at the Universidad Autónoma de Mexico. Here he met and kept contact with distinguished Mexican intellectuals and Spanish refugees such as José Gaos
, people who would leave great mark and influence in him.
He was always fed by the reading of authors such as José Ortega y Gasset
, Wilheim Dilthey, Benedeto Croce, Martin Heidegger
, among other history writers Published in June 2000. Op.cit. p. 14 who kept disagreement with former Mexican historiography, which was full extremism and had a cult for the unedited new documents.
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...
– † September 28, 1995 in Mexico City) was an Irish-Mexican
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...
writer, historian and philosopher.
He was the brother of architect Juan O'Gorman
Juan O'Gorman
Juan O'Gorman was a Mexican painter and architect.-Biography:O'Gorman was born in Coyoacán, then a village to the south of Mexico City and now a borough of the Federal District, to an Irish father, Cecil Crawford O'Gorman and a Mexican mother...
and the son of painter and mining engineer Cecil Crawford O'Gorman who arrived in Mexico from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1895. He was also the grandson of Charles O'Gorman, the first British consul to Mexico City and later married a Mexican citizen. He graduated in Law
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
(1928) from Escuela Libre de Derecho
Escuela Libre de Derecho
Escuela Libre de Derecho is a prestigious law school in Mexico. Founded in 1912, it has among its alumni some of the most distinguished Mexican attorneys...
and with doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
s in 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...
(1948) and in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
(1951) from 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 was also a faculty member. He worked for the General National Archive
General National Archive
General National Archive is the name of several national archives in Latin America.*General Archive of the Nation *General Archive of the Nation *General National Archive *General National Archive...
between 1938 and 1952 and wrote several books between 1951 and 1986. He became a member of the Mexican Academy of the Spanish Language in 1969 and of the Mexican Academy of the Corresponding History of the Real of Madrid, corporation of which he became of director of from 1972 to 1987. He resigned after disagreements over concepts such as the "discovery of America", "encounter between two worlds", "cultural fusion" (or "natural mixing"), names he rejected and instead preferred the terms "empowerment", "domination" and others more according with history.
Studies and Docency
He Studied Civil Rights at the Escuela Libre de Derecho, which he graduated from in 1928, and practiced this professional activity from 1928 to 1937. Since 1938 he worked in the General National Archive in Mexico (Archivo general de la naciónPublished his first works and studies in the "Alcancía" along with his close friend Justino Fernández. In 1940 his acknowledgements and credentials turned him into History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
teacher in the 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...
faculty of the Mexico City College. In 1948 he achieved a Master in 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 in 1951 a PhD in History with the summa cum laude honorific distinction at the Universidad Autónoma de Mexico. Here he met and kept contact with distinguished Mexican intellectuals and Spanish refugees such as José Gaos
José Gaos
José Gaos was a Spanish-born philosopher who obtained political asylum in Mexico during the Spanish Civil War....
, people who would leave great mark and influence in him.
He was always fed by the reading of authors such as José Ortega y Gasset
José Ortega y Gasset
José Ortega y Gasset was a Spanish liberal philosopher and essayist working during the first half of the 20th century while Spain oscillated between monarchy, republicanism and dictatorship. He was, along with Nietzsche, a proponent of the idea of perspectivism.-Biography:José Ortega y Gasset was...
, Wilheim Dilthey, Benedeto Croce, Martin Heidegger
Martin Heidegger
Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher known for his existential and phenomenological explorations of the "question of Being."...
, among other history writers Published in June 2000. Op.cit. p. 14 who kept disagreement with former Mexican historiography, which was full extremism and had a cult for the unedited new documents.
Achievements
- Premio Nacional de Letras in (1974)
- Premio Historia Rafael Heliodoro Valle (1983)
- Premio UNAM a la Docencia (1986).
- Member of the Academia Mexicana de la Historia (1964).
- Member of the Academia Mexicana de la Lengua (1969).
- Received honoris causa Ph. Ds at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México y de la Universidad Iberoamericana.
- Emeritus professor of the Sistema Nacional de Investigadores and the UNAM y member of the Junta de Gobierno.
- Led the Academia Mexicana de la Historia (1972–1987).
Books
- Destierro de Sombras (1986)
- La incógnita de la llamada "Historia de los indios de la Nueva España", atribuida a Fray Toribio Motolinia (1982)
- México el trauma de su historia (1977)
- Guías de las actas del cabildo de la ciudad de México. Siglo XVI (1970)
- 50 años de revolución (1962)
- La supervivencia política novohispana (1961)
- Invención de América (1958)
- Coautor de Precedentes y sentido de la revolución de Ayutla (1954)
- Fundamentos de la historia de América (1951)
- Dos concepciones de la tarea histórica (1951)
External links
- Profile at the Mexican Academy of the Spanish Language
- http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlac/00047/lac-00047.html
- Irish-Mexican brothers: Edmundo and Juan O'Gorman at the Society for Irish Latin American StudiesSociety for Irish Latin American StudiesThe Society for Irish Latin American Studies was created in 2003 to study Ireland's role in Latin America.-History:It was founded on 1 July 2003 to promote the study of relations between Ireland and Latin American countries...
.