Caso y Andrade, Antonio (1883–1946)

Antonio Caso y Andrade (b. 19 December 1883; d. 6 March 1946), a leading Mexican philosopher who wrote numerous books on values and sociology but is more important for his contribution to the cultural emancipation of the Mexican and the destruction of positivism. He is also remembered for his notable debates on academic freedom in 1933 and for his impact on dozens of major intellectual and political figures who passed through the National University from 1910 through the 1920s.

The son of engineer Antonio Caso y Morali and Maria Andrade, and brother of Alfonso Caso y Andrade, he became first secretary of the National Treasury in 1910 and was a founding member of the first graduate school in 1913. He was among the members of the distinguished intellectual generation of the Ateneo de la Juventud. Caso directed the National Preparatory School, the School of Philosophy and Letters, and, in 1921–1923, the National University. He served briefly as an ambassador in South America and was an original member of the prestigious National College, an honorary society of distinguished Mexicans.

See alsoPhilosophy: Overview; Positivism.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Antonio Caso, El concepto de la historia universal y la filosofía de los valores (1933).

Luís Garrido, Antonio Caso: Una vida profunda (1961).

John H. Haddox, Antonio Caso: Philosopher of Mexico (1971).

María Caso, 20 lecciones de español (1972).

Additional Bibliography

Chávez González, Mónica. "Antonio Caso y los paradigmas de la nación mexicana." Cuicuilco 11: 30 (January-April 2004): 217-236.

Hernandez Prado, Jose. La filosofía de la cultura de Antonio Caso: La concepcion casiana del conocimiento de la historia, la sociedad y la cultura. Mexico, D.F.: Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, 1994.

                                    Roderic Ai Camp