Q0667
“The abstract issues [of philosophy] will have to be seen from the…” — Leopoldo Zea (cited in SEP “Latin American Philosophy:…)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: cited in SEP “Latin American Philosophy: Metaphilosophical Foundations” (Zea 1948, p. 226). Theme: society.
English
The abstract issues [of philosophy] will have to be seen from the Latin American man’s own circumstance. … When we [Latin Americans] address abstract issues, we shall formulate them as issues of our own.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to cited in SEP “Latin American Philosophy: Metaphilosophical Foundations” (Zea 1948, p. 226) and files it under Philosophy of History. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Leopoldo Zea
Leopoldo Zea (1912–2004) was a Mexican philosopher who argued that Latin American thought becomes authentic when it reflects on its own historical circumstance rather than imitating European systems. Works such as The Latin-American Mind and Philosophy as Commitment made circumstantialism a lasting metaphilosophical option.
How to read this passage
Social philosophy asks how individuals and collectives constitute each other, and what justice requires of shared life. This passage enters that discussion through society.
Concepts in this quote
- Society
- Society is the web of institutions, customs, and mutual expectations in which individual freedom takes shape.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Leopoldo Zea. (n.d.). The abstract issues [of philosophy] will have to be seen from the Latin American man’s own circumstance. … When we [Latin Americans] address abstract issues, we shall formulate them as issues of our own. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0667
MLA: Leopoldo Zea. “The abstract issues [of philosophy] will have to….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0667.
Chicago: Leopoldo Zea. “The abstract issues [of philosophy] will have to….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0667.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The abstract issues [of philosophy] will have to…”?
The passage is attributed to Leopoldo Zea, cited in SEP “Latin American Philosophy: Metaphilosophical Foundations” (Zea 1948, p. 226). The archive attributes this English wording to cited in SEP “Latin American Philosophy: Metaphilosophical Foundations” (Zea 1948, p. 226) and files it under Philosophy of History. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Leopoldo Zea mean by society?
Social philosophy asks how individuals and collectives constitute each other, and what justice requires of shared life. This passage enters that discussion through society.