Q0668
“If we are to be faithful to our calling, we have to…” — Leopoldo Zea (Philosophy as Commitment (1952 [2017: 137]);…)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Philosophy as Commitment (1952 [2017: 137]); SEP “Mexican Existentialism”. Theme: society.
English
If we are to be faithful to our calling, we have to affirm that our situation is not that of Jean-Paul Sartre. Our situation is not that of the European bourgeoisie.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Philosophy as Commitment (1952 [2017: 137]); SEP “Mexican Existentialism” 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.). If we are to be faithful to our calling, we have to affirm that our situation is not that of Jean-Paul Sartre. Our situation is not that of the European bourgeoisie. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0668
MLA: Leopoldo Zea. “If we are to be faithful to our….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0668.
Chicago: Leopoldo Zea. “If we are to be faithful to our….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0668.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “If we are to be faithful to our…”?
The passage is attributed to Leopoldo Zea, Philosophy as Commitment (1952 [2017: 137]); SEP “Mexican Existentialism”. The archive attributes this English wording to Philosophy as Commitment (1952 [2017: 137]); SEP “Mexican Existentialism” 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.