Review by Choice Review
Saenz (Le Moyne College, NY) examines some important philosophical issues that have been fundamental to Latin American thinkers since their countries obtained political independence in the early nineteenth century. Among these issues cultural identity figures prominently. Saenz offers a detailed analysis of how the Mexican philosopher Leopoldo Zea has thought about cultural identity, but ultimately concludes that the distinctive identity of Latin American nations can be established only if the differences existing within the various groups that make up those nations are first acknowledged. His numerous references to evidence about the thought and culture of the indigenous peoples of Latin America suggest that Saenz takes them to be a crucial factor constituting the cultural and social profile of the region. Unfortunately, the book shows a noticeable tendency to approach problems of collective identity through methods borrowed from contemporary European philosophy--those of Martin Heidegger in particular. Since such methods lack clarity on how to construe collective identity it is in the end difficult to discern Saenz's own views on the problem. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and researchers. S. Nuccetelli; St. Cloud State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
