Is the German diary of Emilio Uranga philosophically interesting?

Abstract

The Mexican philosopher Emilio Uranga (1921-1988) is mostly remembered as the author of a brilliant, audacious book, Análisis del ser del mexicano (1952), but also as a scathing journalist and an advisor to four presidents: Adolfo López Mateos, Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Luis Echeverría Álvarez and José López Portillo. It is now possible to draw a line connecting these two aspects of our philosopher, thanks to the recent publication of his German diary (1954-55). Can this diary help us understand better the personal and theoretical circumstances that led Emilio Uranga to prefer political journalism over Academic philosophy? But first, can a private document (such as this diary) be philosopically interesting and relevant? According to Orteguian circumstancialism, as developed by Samuel Ramos, Leopoldo Zea and José Gaos, the answer is, undoubtedly, yes.