John Haddox
Encyclopedia
John Herbert Haddox is an American Philosopher known for his thought in the area of ethics
and social philosophy
, and for his groundbreaking work of introducing Mexican philosophers to the English-speaking world. He has taught for over 50 years at the University of Texas at El Paso
. His best known books are Vasconcelos of Mexico: Philosopher and Prophet, and Antonio Caso: Philosopher of Mexico, both of which were published by the University of Texas Press
. He has also written extensively on Chicano and Native American thought.
Also known internationally for his efforts to promote peace and human rights, Haddox has worked with many organizations over the years, including the American Friends Service Committee
and the student organization MEChA
. He has lectured in Brasilia, Brazil, at the National University of Mexico, at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK, at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and at universities and academic meetings throughout the United States. He was honored by Pope Paul VI
with knighthood in the Order of St. Gregory the Great
. Haddox was a close friend and collaborator with Mexican pacifist and diplomat Heberto Sein
during his later years.
John Haddox was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma
. He served in the U.S. military during the Korean War
, and met his wife, Carmen (Mendoza) Haddox while stationed at William Beaumont Army Medical Center
. They have eleven children.
Main Ideas
Haddox received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame
, where he came under the influence of Jacques Maritain
and the “new scholasticism
.” With a strong background in science (he had originally intended to study medicine), and influenced by Alexander Ivanovich Oparin and his ideas concerning abiogenesis
as well as scholastic ideas of universal order, he championed teleology
in biology. When he began teaching in an bicultural environment, his focus changed from the philosophy of science to ethics and social philosophy. John Haddox has been called a “religious existentialist” and a “personalist.” He has argued for the need to include Latin American philosophers, and especially Mexican philosophers, into the philosophical canon. He makes the case that worldviews emerging from the “territorial minorities” in the United States, Chicanos and Native Americans, constitute unique and fully developed philosophical positions as well. Out of his interest in Latin American philosophers such as Bartolomé de las Casas
, José Enrique Rodó
, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
, Leopoldo Zea, Vasconcelos
and Antonio Caso, who were fully involved in the social, political and educational movements of their time, Haddox developed a philosophy of activism. The duty of the philosopher is to be engaged in society, from an ethical perspective, and to form through education conscientious citizens. The teaching of social ethics awakens the human conscience, replacing the instinctive with altruism. These ideas are embodied in his famous paraphrase of Caso: “The properly and distinctively human feature of man is his ability to say to others ‘take,’ ‘take of my time,’ ‘take of my concern,’ ‘take of my interest,’ 'take of my possessions,' even, ‘take of me.'"
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and social philosophy
Social philosophy
Social philosophy is the philosophical study of questions about social behavior . Social philosophy addresses a wide range of subjects, from individual meanings to legitimacy of laws, from the social contract to criteria for revolution, from the functions of everyday actions to the effects of...
, and for his groundbreaking work of introducing Mexican philosophers to the English-speaking world. He has taught for over 50 years at the University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
. His best known books are Vasconcelos of Mexico: Philosopher and Prophet, and Antonio Caso: Philosopher of Mexico, both of which were published by the University of Texas Press
University of Texas Press
The University of Texas Press is a university press that is part of the University of Texas at Austin. Established in 1950, the Press publishes scholarly books in several areas, including Latin American studies, Texana, anthropology, U.S...
. He has also written extensively on Chicano and Native American thought.
Also known internationally for his efforts to promote peace and human rights, Haddox has worked with many organizations over the years, including the American Friends Service Committee
American Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Religious Society of Friends affiliated organization which works for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world...
and the student organization MEChA
MEChA
M.E.Ch.A. is an organization that seeks to promote Chicano unity and empowerment through political action. The acronym of the organization's name is the Spanish word mecha, which means "fuse"...
. He has lectured in Brasilia, Brazil, at the National University of Mexico, at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK, at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and at universities and academic meetings throughout the United States. He was honored by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
with knighthood in the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
. Haddox was a close friend and collaborator with Mexican pacifist and diplomat Heberto Sein
Heberto Sein
Heberto Sein was a Mexican Quaker leader, peace activist, language interpreter and diplomat. Born in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Sein was a founder of the Mexico City Friends Meeting and Friends House. He was married to a Swiss-born Quaker, Suzanne Sein...
during his later years.
John Haddox was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma
Pawnee, Oklahoma
Pawnee is a city in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,230 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pawnee County.-Geography:Pawnee is located at...
. He served in the U.S. military during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, and met his wife, Carmen (Mendoza) Haddox while stationed at William Beaumont Army Medical Center
William Beaumont Army Medical Center
William Beaumont Army Medical Center is a Department of Defense medical facility located in El Paso, Texas. It provides comprehensive care to all beneficiaries including active duty military, their family members, and retirees...
. They have eleven children.
Main Ideas
Haddox received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where he came under the influence of Jacques Maritain
Jacques Maritain
Jacques Maritain was a French Catholic philosopher. Raised as a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism in 1906. An author of more than 60 books, he helped to revive St. Thomas Aquinas for modern times and is a prominent drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
and the “new scholasticism
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
.” With a strong background in science (he had originally intended to study medicine), and influenced by Alexander Ivanovich Oparin and his ideas concerning abiogenesis
Abiogenesis
Abiogenesis or biopoesis is the study of how biological life arises from inorganic matter through natural processes, and the method by which life on Earth arose...
as well as scholastic ideas of universal order, he championed teleology
Teleology
A teleology is any philosophical account which holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that design and purpose analogous to that found in human actions are inherent also in the rest of nature. The word comes from the Greek τέλος, telos; root: τελε-, "end, purpose...
in biology. When he began teaching in an bicultural environment, his focus changed from the philosophy of science to ethics and social philosophy. John Haddox has been called a “religious existentialist” and a “personalist.” He has argued for the need to include Latin American philosophers, and especially Mexican philosophers, into the philosophical canon. He makes the case that worldviews emerging from the “territorial minorities” in the United States, Chicanos and Native Americans, constitute unique and fully developed philosophical positions as well. Out of his interest in Latin American philosophers such as Bartolomé de las Casas
Bartolomé de Las Casas
Bartolomé de las Casas O.P. was a 16th-century Spanish historian, social reformer and Dominican friar. He became the first resident Bishop of Chiapas, and the first officially appointed "Protector of the Indians"...
, José Enrique Rodó
José Enrique Rodo
José Enrique Rodó Piñeyro was a Uruguayan essayist. He called for the youth of Latin America to reject materialism, to revert back to Greco-Roman habits of free thought and self enrichment, and to develop and concentrate on their culture.He cultivated an epistolary relationship with important...
, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento was an Argentine activist, intellectual, writer, statesman and the seventh President of Argentina. His writing spanned a wide range of genres and topics, from journalism to autobiography, to political philosophy and history...
, Leopoldo Zea, Vasconcelos
Vasconcelos
Vasconcelos or Vasconcellos is a surname of Portuguese noble origin, originally a toponym appearing in the late 12th century, and may refer to:-People:...
and Antonio Caso, who were fully involved in the social, political and educational movements of their time, Haddox developed a philosophy of activism. The duty of the philosopher is to be engaged in society, from an ethical perspective, and to form through education conscientious citizens. The teaching of social ethics awakens the human conscience, replacing the instinctive with altruism. These ideas are embodied in his famous paraphrase of Caso: “The properly and distinctively human feature of man is his ability to say to others ‘take,’ ‘take of my time,’ ‘take of my concern,’ ‘take of my interest,’ 'take of my possessions,' even, ‘take of me.'"