The function of the university in the philosophy of Ignacio Ellacuría. A view considering our current context

Abstract

Ellacuria’s university model does not dovetail with either the traditional model, or with his way of practicing the rationality that he proposed and lived by. His central idea is summed up in the slogan: build a justice–based culture, or, in other words: the function of the university is to use its own specific essence to contribute to the liberation of society. Thus, this text deals with verifying what Ellacuría’s idea can offer today’s world and see if there are reasons for us to choose a model of university that involves social reality as a whole, and that rationally provides society with ethical orientation, or could generate a different cultural model for social development. To do so, this article is divided into two principle parts; the first endeavors to present the model based on rationality, displayed in the modern history of the university in the context of a world produced by Modernity; the second deals with Ellacuria’s proposal, its possible rationality and the source of its cultural alternative. At the same time, we would like to trace his thought process and project it to confront today’s challenges to the mission of the university.