Gabino Barreda
Encyclopedia
Gabino Barreda was a Mexican
physician
and philosopher
oriented to French
positivism
.
After participating in the U.S.-Mexican War defending his country as a volunteer, he studied medicine in Paris
(1847-1851). There he became acquainted with Auguste Comte
's doctrine, before his first publications in philosophy. Upon returning to Mexico City, he introduced the positivistic school, and taught in Guanajuato
(1863-67) until the end of the Maximilian
empire. Later he met Education minister Antonio Martínez de Castro, who named him teacher of Logic
at the National Preparatory School, where he worked for several years. In 1878 he was received in Berlin as Mexican ambassador in the German Empire
. He influenced many traditionalist thinkers during the Porfirian regime
.
To this day, he is acknowledged as one of the fathers of the UNAM
and the undergraduate medal for the top student of each major's class is named in his honor.
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...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and philosopher
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...
oriented to French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
positivism
Positivism
Positivism is a a view of scientific methods and a philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that, in the social as well as natural sciences, sensory experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are together the exclusive source of all worthwhile information....
.
After participating in the U.S.-Mexican War defending his country as a volunteer, he studied medicine in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1847-1851). There he became acquainted with Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
's doctrine, before his first publications in philosophy. Upon returning to Mexico City, he introduced the positivistic school, and taught in Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
(1863-67) until the end of the Maximilian
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
empire. Later he met Education minister Antonio Martínez de Castro, who named him teacher of Logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
at the National Preparatory School, where he worked for several years. In 1878 he was received in Berlin as Mexican ambassador in the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. He influenced many traditionalist thinkers during the Porfirian regime
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
.
To this day, he is acknowledged as one of the fathers of 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...
and the undergraduate medal for the top student of each major's class is named in his honor.