Participants will have the opportunity to study Latin American philosophy in this four week NEH Summer Institute for College Teachers hosted on the campus of University at Buffalo.  The four topics of inquiry will include:

1.  The questions raised during the colonial period concerning the treatment of the
     natives from the Americas by Iberian conquerors

2.  The rationale used to argue for the independence of Latin America from Spain and
     Portugal

3.  The ideas proposed by Latin Americans regarding the social and political
     organizations of the newly independent nations.

4.  Latin American identity and its multiple interpretations

The overall focus will be on how the western European philosophical tradition was appropriated and modified in order to meet the demands arising from the circumstances it encountered in Latin America.

Applications for participants from scholars whose areas of expertise range from philosophy to Latin American studies, including such fields as literature, history, art history, political science, sociology, and anthropology will be accepted until March 1st, 2005.  Only college and university teachers are eligible to participate.  Stipends of $3,000 to cover expenses are provided by the National Endowment for Humanities.