The liberating philosophy of Ignacio Ellacuria: historical reality, humanism, and praxis

The Liberating Philosophy of Ignacio Ellacurìa: Historical Reality, Humanism, and Praxis is the first systematic work on the philosophy of Ignacio Ellacurìa to be published in English so far. The Spaniard-Salvadorian philosopher-murdered in Salvador in 1989 by the military-maintains that philosophy is a permanent task grounded in metaphysics as first philosophy, as developed within a historical reality and a preferential option for the poor. As explored by this collection edited by Luis Arturo Martìnez Vásquez, Randall Carrera Umaña, and Luis Rubén Dìaz Cepeda, Ellacurìa's theory is a critical and practical proposal immersed in the colonial history of Central America, but its explanatory and normative power extends to oppressed people all around the world. The contributors to this volume, coming from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Salvador, and Costa Rica, analyze Ellacurìa's philosophy of liberation in conjunction with radical realism and strength, describing it as "a philosophy created by people concerned with the problems and history of our land-such as our colonial past, systemic poverty and dependency-and… responding to these concerns can offer alternatives for a true liberation of all the dominated peoples of the world."