To think about Latin America, from the general to the local

Abstract

The main objective of this essay has been to formulate a provocation that introduces the relevance and the need to question the way of thinking from Latin America, especially in the face of the urgency of developing localized ways of responding to or questioning the fundamental questions that affect the very existence of the region. The academic essay methodology has been followed for its development and structuring of the text and discussion of results. In this way, three parts are proposed that organize the reflection of the text, namely: 1. Why think from a Latin American philosophy? 2. Thinking from moments of crisis. 3. Why think from a Latin American philosophy? Among the conclusions and results, among other aspects, the need to think from the concern for the particular situation and the occupation to reflect from a regional vision, questioning the evident absences in traditional systems of thought, while thinking in a reflective way is a political act because it manages to imagine and propose changes in social relations. The reluctance to accept subalternity and domination as an ethical and methodological imperative is proposed, while at the same time undertaking South-South dialogues with other former colonies, peripheries and indigenous knowledge. Finally, it is urged to avoid falling into common criticisms in the style of a “critical common sense”, or convenient criticism of the “normal” state of things.